diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
index af8d7ed..b0fcfcd 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -2230,6 +2230,8 @@
     <string name="controls_media_smartspace_rec_item_description">Play <xliff:g id="song_name" example="Daily mix">%1$s</xliff:g> by <xliff:g id="artist_name" example="Various artists">%2$s</xliff:g> from <xliff:g id="app_label" example="Spotify">%3$s</xliff:g></string>
     <!-- Description for Smartspace recommendation's media item which doesn't have artist info, including information for the media's title and the source app [CHAR LIMIT=NONE]-->
     <string name="controls_media_smartspace_rec_item_no_artist_description">Play <xliff:g id="song_name" example="Daily mix">%1$s</xliff:g> from <xliff:g id="app_label" example="Spotify">%2$s</xliff:g></string>
+    <!-- Placeholder title to inform user that an app has posted media controls [CHAR_LIMIT=NONE] -->
+    <string name="controls_media_empty_title"><xliff:g id="app_name" example="Foo Music App">%1$s</xliff:g> is running</string>
 
     <!--- ****** Media tap-to-transfer ****** -->
     <!-- Text for a button to undo the media transfer. [CHAR LIMIT=20] -->
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManager.kt b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManager.kt
index 6a69d42..4c2336e 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManager.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManager.kt
@@ -658,12 +658,16 @@
 
         // Song name
         var song: CharSequence? = metadata?.getString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_DISPLAY_TITLE)
-        if (song == null) {
+        if (song.isNullOrBlank()) {
             song = metadata?.getString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_TITLE)
         }
-        if (song == null) {
+        if (song.isNullOrBlank()) {
             song = HybridGroupManager.resolveTitle(notif)
         }
+        if (song.isNullOrBlank()) {
+            // For apps that don't include a title, add a placeholder
+            song = context.getString(R.string.controls_media_empty_title, app)
+        }
 
         // Artist name
         var artist: CharSequence? = metadata?.getString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_ARTIST)
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManagerTest.kt b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManagerTest.kt
index 1cce7cf..52266f9 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManagerTest.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManagerTest.kt
@@ -61,9 +61,11 @@
 private const val KEY_MEDIA_SMARTSPACE = "MEDIA_SMARTSPACE_ID"
 private const val PACKAGE_NAME = "com.example.app"
 private const val SYSTEM_PACKAGE_NAME = "com.android.systemui"
-private const val APP_NAME = "SystemUI"
+private const val APP_NAME = "com.android.systemui.tests"
 private const val SESSION_ARTIST = "artist"
 private const val SESSION_TITLE = "title"
+private const val SESSION_BLANK_TITLE = " "
+private const val SESSION_EMPTY_TITLE = ""
 private const val USER_ID = 0
 private val DISMISS_INTENT = Intent().apply { action = "dismiss" }
 
@@ -339,6 +341,98 @@
     }
 
     @Test
+    fun testOnNotificationAdded_emptyTitle_hasPlaceholder() {
+        // When the manager has a notification with an empty title
+        whenever(controller.metadata)
+            .thenReturn(
+                metadataBuilder
+                    .putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_TITLE, SESSION_EMPTY_TITLE)
+                    .build()
+            )
+        mediaDataManager.onNotificationAdded(KEY, mediaNotification)
+
+        // Then a media control is created with a placeholder title string
+        assertThat(backgroundExecutor.runAllReady()).isEqualTo(1)
+        assertThat(foregroundExecutor.runAllReady()).isEqualTo(1)
+        verify(listener)
+            .onMediaDataLoaded(
+                eq(KEY),
+                eq(null),
+                capture(mediaDataCaptor),
+                eq(true),
+                eq(0),
+                eq(false)
+            )
+        val placeholderTitle = context.getString(R.string.controls_media_empty_title, APP_NAME)
+        assertThat(mediaDataCaptor.value.song).isEqualTo(placeholderTitle)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun testOnNotificationAdded_blankTitle_hasPlaceholder() {
+        // GIVEN that the manager has a notification with a blank title
+        whenever(controller.metadata)
+            .thenReturn(
+                metadataBuilder
+                    .putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_TITLE, SESSION_BLANK_TITLE)
+                    .build()
+            )
+        mediaDataManager.onNotificationAdded(KEY, mediaNotification)
+
+        // Then a media control is created with a placeholder title string
+        assertThat(backgroundExecutor.runAllReady()).isEqualTo(1)
+        assertThat(foregroundExecutor.runAllReady()).isEqualTo(1)
+        verify(listener)
+            .onMediaDataLoaded(
+                eq(KEY),
+                eq(null),
+                capture(mediaDataCaptor),
+                eq(true),
+                eq(0),
+                eq(false)
+            )
+        val placeholderTitle = context.getString(R.string.controls_media_empty_title, APP_NAME)
+        assertThat(mediaDataCaptor.value.song).isEqualTo(placeholderTitle)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun testOnNotificationAdded_emptyMetadata_usesNotificationTitle() {
+        // When the app sets the metadata title fields to empty strings, but does include a
+        // non-blank notification title
+        whenever(controller.metadata)
+            .thenReturn(
+                metadataBuilder
+                    .putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_TITLE, SESSION_EMPTY_TITLE)
+                    .putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_DISPLAY_TITLE, SESSION_EMPTY_TITLE)
+                    .build()
+            )
+        mediaNotification =
+            SbnBuilder().run {
+                setPkg(PACKAGE_NAME)
+                modifyNotification(context).also {
+                    it.setSmallIcon(android.R.drawable.ic_media_pause)
+                    it.setContentTitle(SESSION_TITLE)
+                    it.setStyle(MediaStyle().apply { setMediaSession(session.sessionToken) })
+                }
+                build()
+            }
+        mediaDataManager.onNotificationAdded(KEY, mediaNotification)
+
+        // Then the media control is added using the notification's title
+        assertThat(backgroundExecutor.runAllReady()).isEqualTo(1)
+        assertThat(foregroundExecutor.runAllReady()).isEqualTo(1)
+        verify(listener)
+            .onMediaDataLoaded(
+                eq(KEY),
+                eq(null),
+                capture(mediaDataCaptor),
+                eq(true),
+                eq(0),
+                eq(false)
+            )
+        assertThat(mediaDataCaptor.value.song).isEqualTo(SESSION_TITLE)
+    }
+
+    @Test
     fun testOnNotificationRemoved_withResumption() {
         // GIVEN that the manager has a notification with a resume action
         whenever(controller.metadata).thenReturn(metadataBuilder.build())