I was listening to the monthly music sampler at Utne Reader when I got curious and started poking about. That’s when I discovered the cool and free Yahoo Media Player. Here’s how they describe it…

• Adds audio to your site with one line of HTML
• Uses simple, easy-to-hack HTML instead of complicated proprietary markup, ushering in the REAL Media Web
• Magical floating design never gets lost, is available when you need it, gets out of your way when you don’t need it
• Automatically finds all audio links on your page, turning your page into a playlist
• Plays all your blog entries with a single button click
• Allows you to put the play buttons where they belong: IN CONTEXT
• Keeps the user in the page rather than sending them away to a media player
• Picks up your images and adds them as cover art
• Requires no download, install or maintenance

You can hack it to pieces, change the look and make it do lots of interesting things. On December 12, 2009 software developers, PonticStar published a complete set of guidelines and tips on Hacking Yahoo! Media Player.

I added a player to Debra Hadraba’s HonorYourTruth.com site using the standalone  version of the WordPress Audio Player plugin before I discovered the Yahoo Player. Now, I will have to reevaluate that solution.