You can run a 24/7 YouTube radio stream from a Windows PC with OBS Studio: loop an audio file or playlist, pair it with a still image or simple visual, and send the stream to YouTube from Live Control Room. For the DIY method, the PC, power and internet connection must remain available. Set up and test the stream before launch, and confirm that you have rights to livestream every track.
Before you set up the stream
Enable YouTube live streaming
Your channel must be verified and must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. First-time activation can take up to 24 hours, so enable it ahead of your launch date. See YouTube’s live-streaming tips and encoder setup instructions.
Choose music you are allowed to broadcast
Use music you own or have explicit permission to livestream. A consumer music subscription should not be assumed to grant rebroadcast rights. YouTube scans livestreams for third-party matches; a match can replace the stream image, interrupt the broadcast or terminate it. Even licensed material may be interrupted unless the rights holder has allowlisted your channel through Content ID. Review YouTube’s copyright guidance.
For India, the Copyright Act’s definition of “communication to the public” includes making works available by display or diffusion. That is background, not a determination of what licence a particular channel needs. Confirm that your permissions cover both the livestream and any recording or archive with the relevant rights holders or a qualified adviser. See the Copyright Act, Chapter I.
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Build a looping radio scene in OBS
- Install OBS Studio for Windows. Create a scene and add a still image or simple visual, such as a title or schedule card, so the live output has a video picture alongside the audio.
- Add one audio file or a playlist. In OBS, add a Media Source for a single recording and enable Loop to repeat it. OBS supports common formats including MP3, AAC, OGG, WAV and MP4. For a rotation of tracks, use the VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist. Install VLC first; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- Check playback before connecting. Confirm that the selected file or playlist plays, repeats as intended, and is audible in the scene. Keep the media files available locally for the full broadcast.
OBS documents these options in its Media Sources guide. A playlist can automate track rotation, but it does not establish that you have the necessary rights to broadcast the tracks.
Create the YouTube stream and connect OBS
- In YouTube Studio, choose Create → Go Live and create or schedule the broadcast in Live Control Room.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key from YouTube into OBS’s stream settings. Treat the key like a password: do not publish it or share it with people who should not be able to send video to your channel.
- Start streaming in OBS. Check that the preview appears in Live Control Room, then start the YouTube event if the selected workflow requires it.
- Watch the stream health and confirm that both the visual and audio are arriving as expected.
YouTube explains the encoder connection in its encoder setup guide.
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Choose video and bitrate settings for your connection
Use a bitrate your stable upload connection can sustain, with headroom for normal variation. YouTube’s recommendations are settings for sending a stream to YouTube, not a guarantee about your ISP’s upload capacity. Measure your connection and test the actual stream at the target setting before relying on it.
| H.264 output | YouTube recommended bitrate | YouTube listed minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 480p30 | 4 Mbps | 0.4 Mbps |
| 720p30 | 8 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 8 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 14 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
These are the H.264 values in YouTube’s encoder settings table. The same guide lists RTMP/RTMPS, H.264/H.265/AV1 video, AAC or MP3 audio, CBR, up to 60 fps, and a recommended two-second keyframe interval (do not exceed four seconds). It recommends RTMPS for encrypted transport. Choose settings that suit your visual; a static radio image may not need a high frame rate, but audio quality and a stable upload still matter.
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The National Informatics Centre’s guidance says a hired-agency stream in its webcast service context needs 2–4 Mbps of dedicated bandwidth per stream. That figure describes the NIC arrangement, not a YouTube encoder setting or a universal requirement for home internet in India. See NIC webcast services.
Keep the Windows PC streaming reliably
- Prevent sleep during the broadcast. Adjust Windows power settings so the PC does not sleep while streaming. If the computer sleeps, OBS cannot continue sending the stream.
- Keep files and the network available. Store media locally rather than depending on a temporary browser session. A wired Ethernet connection is a sensible choice when available, though it is not a YouTube requirement.
- Consider power backup. A UPS for the PC and router can help with brief power interruptions. Choose equipment for your own setup; no universal capacity or runtime can be specified here.
- Monitor and test recovery. OBS has an automatic reconnect setting, but reconnecting cannot prevent interruptions caused by power loss, an unavailable internet connection or software failure. YouTube recommends monitoring audio/video quality and checking local archive file growth. Test any backup encoder failover you plan to use.
If OBS reports dropped frames, its troubleshooting guide identifies an unstable network or a connection unable to sustain the selected bitrate as causes; reducing bitrate and investigating the network path are practical next steps. See OBS’s overview and connection troubleshooting guide.
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Plan around YouTube’s 12-hour archive boundary
YouTube says, “All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived.” It does not promise a complete archive for a single stream longer than 12 hours, so do not assume a continuous 24-hour broadcast will be saved in full. If retaining the programme matters, consider running separate sessions shorter than 12 hours, making a local recording, or both; verify archive behavior on your channel before depending on it. See YouTube’s encoder setup guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.DIY from a PC or continuous streaming in the cloud?
OBS gives you direct control over your scene and local playlist, but the Windows PC and its power and internet connection need to stay available. A cloud service shifts playback away from your home computer; compare whether it supports your workflow, what it costs, how it handles recovery, and what archive or recording behavior it provides.
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Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for keeping an uploaded video or playlist live. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Your computer can be off; StreamNeo loops the uploaded media and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- There is one flat price per slot at any quality up to 4K 60fps, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- Each slot includes one always-on stream, 10 GB of storage per slot pooled across active slots, 24/7 looping and playlists, automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream, and support from the StreamNeo team. The product is the same on every plan; only the billing length changes.
- The first day is free, with no card required; it is one free day per account. Billing options are a day, a week, a month, 6 months or a year, and you can cancel any time. UPI and cards are supported in India; card checkout is available worldwide. For 5 or more slots, contact support.
Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. To try the free first day, start a StreamNeo account.
Quick Recap
Troubleshooting common 24/7 stream problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| OBS will not connect or YouTube shows no incoming preview | Incorrect stream URL or key, or live streaming is not enabled for the channel. | Check the URL and key in OBS, keep the key private, and confirm channel eligibility and activation in YouTube Studio. |
| Audio stops or the playlist does not advance | Looping is not enabled, the playlist source is misconfigured, VLC is missing or mismatched, or a media file is unavailable. | Test the source locally, check Loop or Loop Playlist, and confirm VLC’s 64-bit edition matches 64-bit OBS. |
| Dropped frames or repeated disconnections | The connection is unstable or cannot sustain the selected bitrate. | Reduce bitrate, check the network path and retest at the intended output setting. OBS automatic reconnect can help restore a dropped connection but is not a guarantee of uninterrupted operation. |
| The PC stops broadcasting after a period of inactivity | Windows went to sleep or lost power. | Review Windows power settings and consider a UPS for the PC and router if brief outages are a concern. |
| The video is interrupted or replaced during a music broadcast | YouTube detected third-party material, or the rights holder has not allowlisted the channel. | Confirm livestream rights with the rights holder and resolve any Content ID requirements; a general consumer subscription is not proof of rebroadcast permission. |
| A long broadcast is missing or incomplete in the archive | The stream exceeded YouTube’s stated under-12-hour automatic archive boundary. | Use shorter sessions and/or make a local recording, then verify the resulting archive before relying on it. |
Free planning tools
- Upload-time calculator for estimating how long it takes to upload media.
- Cloud vs PC cost calculator for comparing operating approaches.
- Copyright safety checklist for reviewing rights questions before broadcasting.
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