# How NotchStar Now Playing works with Apple Music

> Apple Music tracks show with artwork and controls through the system Now Playing service. Radio style items have no duration, so there is no progress bar.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-apple-music-now-playing/
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Published 2026-11-04.

Apple Music works with NotchStar Now Playing. The Home tab shows the track title, artist and cover, plus previous, play or pause and next buttons that reach Music. Some Apple Music items, such as radio style streams, have no duration, so no progress bar is drawn.

## What you get

- **Title, artist and artwork** from the system Now Playing service.
- **Controls** that go to Music while it is the playing app.
- **A progress bar** when Music publishes a duration and an elapsed time.

## What differs

Through the AppleScript fallback, which is used when the system route is silent or unavailable, Music tracks that stream often report no duration. NotchStar treats that as normal and shows no bar. It also gets no cover image from Music in that mode, so a music note placeholder appears. See [why artwork may be missing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-album-artwork-missing/).

## Permission

The fallback and its controls need macOS Automation access for Music. The prompt reads "NotchStar controls Music and Spotify playback from the notch." Details are on the [Automation page](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-automation-permission-music-spotify/).

## If nothing shows

Play a track in the Music app, reopen the notch and pick Home. For more, read [which apps show up](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-now-playing-sources/) and the [Now Playing page](https://www.notchstar.com/features/now-playing/). The no bar case has its own page: [no progress bar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-now-playing-no-progress-bar/).

## Keep reading.

- [Now playing, with real album art](https://www.notchstar.com/features/now-playing/): See the song playing on your Mac with album artwork and controls in the notch. Live updates, and a progress bar when the player provides one.
- [Why there is no progress bar in NotchStar Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-now-playing-no-progress-bar/): NotchStar draws the progress bar only when the player gives a real duration and elapsed time. Radio style Apple Music items and some streams give neither.
- [Why album artwork is missing in NotchStar Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-album-artwork-missing/): NotchStar shows a music note instead of a cover when the player gives no artwork, a new track has not sent its art yet, or in the AppleScript fallback.
- [Why NotchStar asks to control Music and Spotify](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-automation-permission-music-spotify/): macOS may ask if NotchStar may control Music or Spotify when the AppleScript fallback runs. Allow it for Now Playing; the main route needs no prompt.

## More in Home and Now Playing.

- [Which apps show up in NotchStar Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-now-playing-sources/): NotchStar shows any app that reports to the macOS Now Playing service. Music and Spotify also work through an AppleScript fallback. Other apps may not appear.
- [Spotify is not showing in NotchStar Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-spotify-not-showing/): If Spotify does not appear in the NotchStar Home tab, start a track, reopen the notch, and allow Automation for Spotify if macOS asks. Steps and the fallback.
- [Why album artwork is missing in NotchStar Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-album-artwork-missing/): NotchStar shows a music note instead of a cover when the player gives no artwork, a new track has not sent its art yet, or in the AppleScript fallback.
- [Why there is no progress bar in NotchStar Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-now-playing-no-progress-bar/): NotchStar draws the progress bar only when the player gives a real duration and elapsed time. Radio style Apple Music items and some streams give neither.
- [The perl process NotchStar starts for Now Playing](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-now-playing-helper-process/): NotchStar starts one Apple signed perl process to read Now Playing while the Home card is open. It ends when you leave Home or quit.
- [Why NotchStar asks to control Music and Spotify](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-automation-permission-music-spotify/): macOS may ask if NotchStar may control Music or Spotify when the AppleScript fallback runs. Allow it for Now Playing; the main route needs no prompt.