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Yes—but not by simply creating a YouTube playlist. YouTube Live receives a live feed from an encoder. To broadcast a radio-style playlist, set up a compatible software or hardware encoder to play and repeat music you are authorized to livestream, then send that feed to YouTube using the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio.
How a playlist becomes a YouTube livestream
A regular YouTube playlist and a livestream are different workflows. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions describe sending a feed from an encoder to YouTube Live. Its playlist Autoplay help describes what plays next for viewers; it does not describe turning a playlist into a live broadcast.
For a continuous radio-style feed, the playlist must be the media source in your encoder workflow. Configure that source or encoder to queue tracks and repeat them. The exact controls depend on the software or hardware you choose; YouTube’s setup guidance does not provide a universal playlist-to-livestream recipe. Creating a playlist on YouTube alone will not make it the live broadcast’s audio source.
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- Confirm livestream access. In YouTube Studio, open the live control room and make sure your channel can livestream. Create or schedule a stream there.
- Choose an encoder. YouTube supports software and hardware encoders. For a basic computer-based setup, dedicated hardware is not required. If considering a device, YouTube maintains a list of verified encoder products.
- Build the program source. Add your authorized music tracks to a playback source the encoder can capture. Set up the queue and repeat behavior in that source or encoder, and add visuals if your broadcast needs them.
- Connect to YouTube. Copy the stream URL and stream key from the live control room into the encoder. Treat the key like a password: anyone who obtains it may be able to broadcast to your stream.
- Preview and test. Start the encoder feed and check YouTube’s preview before going live. Test a representative section, including track transitions and audio levels, and monitor stream health while broadcasting. YouTube recommends having upload bandwidth with headroom and monitoring the stream; see its streaming tips.
Get music rights before broadcasting
Use only music you have the necessary rights to livestream. YouTube’s terms place responsibility on the provider to have rights for use on Google services, including music licensing rights. Buying a track or being able to play it through a consumer music service does not, by itself, establish that you can livestream it.
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YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. It says: “All live streams are scanned for matches to third-party content, including copyrighted content in the form of another live broadcast.” If the system identifies third-party content, YouTube may warn you, replace the stream with a placeholder image, interrupt it, or terminate it. Even a stream for which you have a license can be interrupted if the rights holder has not allowlisted your channel through Content ID. See YouTube’s guidance on copyright issues with live streams.
Plan for long broadcasts and archives
YouTube’s encoder guidance says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. If you expect a broadcast to run longer, do not assume the whole session will be preserved as one archive. The cited guidance does not establish an unlimited session or prescribe a way to chain broadcasts into a continuous 24/7 service.
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DVR is a viewer-side option, not a playlist control. When enabled, it lets viewers pause, rewind, and resume where they paused. It does not choose or repeat the music source. See YouTube’s stream settings guidance.
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The right encoder depends on whether it can repeat your chosen media reliably, how much unattended operation and recovery you need, whether a computer or separate device must stay on, and the setup’s total cost and complexity. YouTube recognizes both software and hardware encoders, but its guidance does not benchmark individual products on these points. Compare the specific tool’s documented playlist controls and recovery behavior rather than assuming hardware is required or that one encoder is best for everyone.
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Or let it run in the cloud
If you want an always-on YouTube stream without leaving a computer running, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos in the cloud. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live; it loops the videos from the cloud. The playlist and tracks still need to be yours to broadcast lawfully.
- Nothing has to stay on at home; the stream continues with your computer off.
- Videos stream as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot rather than quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery is available if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required, one free day per account.
Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. You can start your free day with StreamNeo.
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