Monitor currently playing song, for statusbars

mpris.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
# This script continuously outputs the currently playing song and play status.
# For use with i3blocks, polybar, yabar etc; to avoid polling

# Note that there is an MPRIS plugin to control and monitor MPV through
# DBUS, at https://github.com/hoyon/mpv-mpris

# See also:
# https://github.com/mariusor/mpris-ctl
# https://github.com/acrisci/playerctl

import sys
import gi
gi.require_version("Playerctl","1.0")
from gi.repository import Playerctl, GLib

player = Playerctl.Player(player_name="mpv")

def update(player, e=None):
    m = dict(**player.props.metadata)
    print("{icon} {title} ({artist} - {album})".format(
          icon = "" if player.props.status == "Playing" else ""
        , artist = " and ".join(m.get("xesam:artist", []))
        , album = m.get("xesam:album", "Unknown")
        , title = m.get("xesam:title", "Unknown")
        )
    )
    sys.stdout.flush()

player.on("play", update)
player.on("pause", update)
player.on("metadata", update)

main = GLib.MainLoop()
main.run()