24/7 SYNTHWAVE & RETROWAVE RADIO

Launch a 24/7 synthwave radio on YouTube — with your computer off

Upload your synthwave tracks and a neon night-drive loop once. SubSub streams them nonstop from our cloud in up to 4K — no OBS, no VPS, no PC left running.

Launch a free test stream See the cost

When the free credit runs out, the stream simply stops. Nothing is charged unless you top up.

57 hours free

No OBS, no VPS

Up to 4K

24/7 for ≈ $6.26/mo

A dark 80s sports car with glowing red tail lights driving a wet coastal highway at dusk, palm trees and a neon city skyline across the bay under a purple and orange sky

LIVE

NOW PLAYING

neon coast · midnight drive

2,431

watching

mia.lofi

this is my coding soundtrack every night

olek

listening from Kyiv 🇺🇦

nightowl

on for the whole 3 a.m. highway drive

rain_drift

outrun + rain on the windshield = 10/10

kenji_beats

$5.00

born in the wrong decade 🌴

sofia

how is this live 24/7?

lucas.wav

who else is working the night shift rn

studybuddy

best synthwave radio on YouTube

Why most synthwave streams stall before sunrise

Your PC has to stay on

Synthwave listeners keep your radio on through late-night coding sessions, long drives and gaming marathons. A home stream dies with every Windows update, power cut or Wi-Fi drop — and every restart loses the live viewers who were watching. SubSub plays your playlist from our servers, so the drive never stops.

OBS and VPS babysitting

Renting a VPS, running OBS without a GPU, restarting a frozen encoder at 4 a.m. — that is a second job. Here you upload files and press start.

Copyright and monetization guesswork

Most synthwave labels and artists register their releases in Content ID, and a claimed track can mute or cut a live stream. Below we explain what you can safely put on air and how synthwave radios actually earn.

HOW IT WORKS

Live in three steps, no software to install

Upload your files

Drop your audio and video into the SubSub media library, put them in order and turn on loop. Files live in our cloud, not on your computer.

Connect YouTube

Create a stream in YouTube Studio and paste its stream key into SubSub. The stream stays on your channel; SubSub only sends the video.

Press start

SubSub streams from our servers around the clock. Close the laptop — the stream keeps playing.

Launch a free test stream

SETUP GUIDE

How to set up a synthwave radio people leave on all night

What long-running synthwave and retrowave channels have in common — and how to get there with SubSub.

Hours of seamless neon

Upload at least 3–4 hours so the same track does not come back every half hour. Mix driving outrun, dreamy chillwave and darker darksynth in blocks, keep tempos close and join tracks with short crossfades. SubSub loops the playlist automatically.

A loop that feels like the 80s

Night drives, palm-lined coastal roads, neon skylines, sunset grids and VHS grain are the visual language of the genre. A 10–30 second seamless loop works best: tail lights, moving road lines, flickering city lights. Use art you made or licensed — not stills from films or games.

Warm, loud and even

Synthwave is mastered loud, so even out loudness across tracks to avoid jumps between artists. Keep the low end tight for car and laptop speakers alike. Export audio at 192 kbps or higher; 1080p video is plenty, 4K if your loop is sharp enough.

Tracks you have rights to

The 80s sound is not copyrighted, but every track is. Stream your own productions, sign written streaming deals with independent artists, or use a library whose terms cover YouTube live streaming and monetization. Covers of 80s hits need separate song licenses.

TRY IT FREE

Launch a test stream tonight — it is on us

Your $0.50 sign-up credit covers about 57 hours on air. Upload a couple of tracks, press start and watch your radio go live. No card, no software, nothing to install.

Create a free account

Upload a track and a looping visual

Press start and keep it running as long as you like

Launch a free test stream

57 free hours · no credit card

What you can stream

YouTube checks every stream with Content ID, and most synthwave labels and distributors register their catalogs there. A claimed track can mute or cut your stream.

Your own tracks and music from artists who gave you written permission for 24/7 streaming
Music libraries licensed for YouTube live and allowlisted for your channel
Not allowed: tracks ripped from other synthwave channels, film and game soundtracks, Spotify or SoundCloud playlists, 80s hits and their covers without licenses

MONETIZATION

How a synthwave radio earns

Once your channel is in the YouTube Partner Program:

Ads — listeners keep the stream on for hours while working, driving or gaming, so watch time adds up
Super Chat and channel memberships — synthwave has a loyal fan community that likes to support its favorite radio
Your links — your releases on Bandcamp and streaming services, merch, sample packs and presets

COST

A full month of 24/7 streaming for about $6

You pay only for streaming time: $0.0087 per hour in base quality (720p, 30 fps). A month nonstop is 720 hours and comes to about $6.26 — no monthly plan, no slot fees. New accounts get $0.50 in free credits, enough for about 57 hours on air, no credit card required.

24/7 · 30 days · 720p 30 fps

≈ $6.26

per month, billed by the hour

Start with 57 free hours

COMPARE

SubSub vs a home PC with OBS

Criteria

SubSub

Home PC + OBS

Your computer stays on

Yes, 24/7

Setup

Upload files, press start

OBS scenes, encoder settings

Where files live

SubSub cloud

Your disk

What breaks the stream

Nothing on your side

Updates, power cuts, Wi-Fi

Cost of 24/7 for a month

≈ $6.26, pay per hour

Electricity and hardware wear

FAQ

Does YouTube allow 24/7 synthwave streams?

Yes. YouTube has no limit on stream length, and synthwave radios stay live for months. The usual rules apply: a verified channel with no live streaming restrictions in the last 90 days, honest titles and thumbnails, and only music you have the rights to.

Is synthwave music copyright-free?

No. Synthwave is a genre, not a license: every track belongs to its artist or label, and many are registered in Content ID. A “no copyright” label on someone else's YouTube video is not a license. Stream your own music, get written permission from artists, or use a library licensed for YouTube live streaming.

Can I use clips from 80s films, anime or games in the visual?

Better not. Footage from films, series, anime and games is copyrighted and can get your stream claimed or taken down. Use your own animation, licensed stock or art you commissioned in the retro style.

Can I monetize a 24/7 synthwave stream?

Yes, once your channel is in the YouTube Partner Program: ads, Super Chat and channel memberships all work on live streams. YouTube may limit monetization of repetitive or reused content, such as mass-produced identical tracks. Build your stream on your own or properly licensed music and give it a visual style of its own.

How long should a synthwave playlist be?

At least 3–4 hours. People keep synthwave on through whole work sessions and night drives, and SubSub loops the playlist automatically, so the longer it is, the less often a track repeats.

Do I need OBS, a VPS or a computer that stays on?

No. You upload files to SubSub once, and our servers send the stream to YouTube. Your computer can be off the whole time.

How much does a 24/7 stream cost?

You pay only for streaming time — $0.0087 per hour in base quality (720p, 30 fps). A full month nonstop is about $6.26. New accounts get $0.50 in free credits, about 57 hours on air, no credit card required.

Why can’t I go live right after setting up my channel?

YouTube can take up to 24 hours to enable live streaming the first time. Turn it on in YouTube Studio a day before you plan to launch.

Can I run several 24/7 streams at once?

Yes. Each stream runs on its own and is billed by its own streaming hours, so you can run different radios on different channels.

Does SubSub check my music for copyright?

No. SubSub does not scan your files. YouTube checks every live stream with Content ID on its side: if it finds a track you do not own, YouTube can mute or stop the stream and strike your channel. Use only music you own or license.

Will YouTube save my 24/7 stream as a video?

Streams up to 12 hours are archived on your channel. Longer streams may not be saved at all, and live streams that are not saved as a video do not count toward Partner Program watch hours. Keep your source files — they stay in your SubSub library.