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You can stream an internet radio station to YouTube by loading its M3U or PLS playlist in OBS, adding a visual to the broadcast scene, and sending that scene to a YouTube Live broadcast. The playlist is only a pointer to the station’s audio stream, and having a working stream URL does not give you permission to rebroadcast it.
What you need before you start
- The station’s direct stream address or playlist file, obtained from the station’s own listening or stream page.
- OBS Studio and VLC installed on the same computer. OBS’s VLC Video source uses VLC libraries to play network streams and playlists. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC as well. OBS: Media Sources
- A YouTube channel with access to YouTube Live. Check YouTube’s current eligibility and activation requirements in YouTube Help; do not rely on an older setup tutorial for account eligibility or activation timing.
- A visual you have permission to use, such as a still image or looping visual, to include with the station’s audio.
- Authorization to transmit the station’s audio on YouTube. Rights depend on the station, music, territory, and applicable agreements; a playlist or public stream link does not grant them.
Find and check the playlist or stream URL
Get the stream address from the station
Look for the station’s own “Listen,” “Streams,” or equivalent page. The URL of that webpage is not necessarily the address that plays the audio. You need the direct stream URL or a playlist file that points to it. A station may change its server address, use temporary access tokens, restrict access by region, or serve a format your player cannot handle, so an address that used to work may fail. 72FM’s guide to finding radio stream URLs explains these distinctions and common failure causes.
Understand M3U, PLS, and M3U8
An M3U playlist is a text file, not an audio recording. A simple M3U commonly begins with #EXTM3U, may include an #EXTINF line with a display name, and then lists the actual stream URL. PLS is also a text playlist, but uses a different layout. M3U8 can refer to UTF-8 text in the M3U family; it is also the extension used for HLS media playlists, so the extension alone does not tell you exactly what content you have. If you open a playlist in a text editor, check that it contains a stream address and that the address is current.
Set up OBS to play the station
- Install matching software. Install OBS Studio and VLC. Match their architecture: for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC.
- Create a scene. In OBS, create or select a scene for the radio broadcast. Add a visual source, such as an image or looping visual, and ensure you have rights to use it.
- Add the station audio. In the Sources panel, choose + → VLC Video Source. Create a source, then add the playlist file or direct stream address in its playlist/media list. OBS documents that this source can use playlists and provides playlist-looping and network-caching controls. OBS: Media Sources
- Configure playback. Enable playlist looping if you are using a playlist that should repeat. If playback stutters or takes too long to start, adjust the VLC source’s network-caching setting and test again; caching can affect startup delay as well as playback stability. Confirm that the audio is audible in OBS before going live.
- Check the scene and audio. Confirm the visual appears in the preview, the station audio is playing, and the audio meter moves. Do not assume that a webpage URL will work in place of a direct stream address.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Prepare the destination. In YouTube Studio, create or select a live broadcast and use the current YouTube Live setup options for your channel. OBS’s community setup guide describes connecting an account or using a stream key and selecting or creating a broadcast, but YouTube’s current help pages should take precedence for changing account or interface requirements. OBS community guide: How to stream to YouTube with OBS Studio
- Connect OBS. In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube if available, and either connect the account or enter the stream key according to the current setup flow. Treat the stream key like a password: anyone who obtains it may be able to broadcast to your channel. Do not publish or share it.
- Start with a preview check. Start streaming from OBS and check YouTube Studio’s stream preview and status before treating the broadcast as ready. Verify the image, audio, and broadcast destination. If YouTube does not receive the feed, confirm the selected service and key, then check that the OBS source is playing.
- Go live and monitor it. Use YouTube Studio’s current controls to make the broadcast public or otherwise available as intended. Monitor the broadcast and the source; a stream URL can stop working after a server change or when a temporary token expires.
Use HLS only when that is the required ingest protocol
Do not copy HLS-specific requirements into a normal RTMP setup. YouTube’s HLS instructions specify 1–4 second TS segments, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, HTTPS POST/PUT, and supported codecs. YouTube says HLS has higher latency than RTMP because it sends video in segments rather than as a continuous stream. Its HLS advanced settings recommend 44.1 kHz audio sampling and 128 Kbps stereo audio. OBS is listed among encoders with HLS output support. Follow YouTube’s current HLS setup instructions if HLS is specifically required; these are not universal OBS settings.
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Keep a broadcast running unattended
Desktop OBS
OBS is the graphical option for a manually managed setup. It is appropriate when you can keep the computer and network connection available and handle monitoring or restarts. A desktop workflow does not itself eliminate interruptions if the computer, connection, or station feed fails.
FFmpeg on a VPS
A Linux VPS running FFmpeg can combine a radio stream with a still image or video and send it to YouTube, which is an option for unattended operation. It requires command-line familiarity and server administration, and adds hosting expense. The exact commands and settings depend on the input stream, visual, and YouTube ingest protocol; the referenced guide describes the architecture rather than establishing a universal command line. RadioTech Studio’s OBS and FFmpeg guide
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Troubleshoot common problems
- The playlist opens as text or does not play: It is a pointer, not audio. Inspect it for the real stream URL and check whether the station has published a newer address.
- The station webpage works, but OBS does not: The webpage and direct audio stream are different addresses. Obtain the direct stream URL or playlist from the station.
- The playlist worked before but now fails: The server address may have changed, a temporary token may have expired, access may be region-restricted, or the format may be unsupported. Check the station’s official listening page for a current link.
- OBS cannot load the VLC source: Confirm VLC is installed and that its architecture matches OBS. For 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
- Audio is silent or intermittent: Confirm the source is playing, inspect the OBS audio meter, and test a different current stream address if available. If playback buffers, adjust the VLC source’s network caching and retest.
- YouTube receives no signal: Check the YouTube destination and stream key in OBS, then verify the source is playing and inspect YouTube Studio’s stream status. Keep the key private.
- YouTube receives audio but the scene is blank: Check that the scene includes a visible image or looping visual and that its source is enabled.
- The broadcast is interrupted: Check whether the source URL, computer, network, or server stopped delivering the feed. A desktop setup requires an operator to address local failures; a VPS setup requires server-side monitoring and administration.
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If the goal is a continuously looping YouTube broadcast rather than a desktop workflow, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos from the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; uploads stream as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo plays uploaded videos to YouTube; it does not rebroadcast a radio station directly from a stream URL, and you still need the rights to use the audio. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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