diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
index a67021611812f..29db9758a8ee7 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -2837,6 +2837,8 @@
     <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>
 
     <!-- Error message indicating that a control timed out while waiting for an update [CHAR_LIMIT=30] -->
     <string name="controls_error_timeout">Inactive, check app</string>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManager.kt b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManager.kt
index 0a28b47923dac..0daced5aa4aa2 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManager.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManager.kt
@@ -563,12 +563,16 @@ class MediaDataManager(
 
         // 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 ba6dfd3c453a7..e990993ab5071 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManagerTest.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/media/MediaDataManagerTest.kt
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import android.service.notification.StatusBarNotification
 import android.testing.AndroidTestingRunner
 import android.testing.TestableLooper.RunWithLooper
 import androidx.test.filters.SmallTest
+import com.android.systemui.R
 import com.android.systemui.SysuiTestCase
 import com.android.systemui.broadcast.BroadcastDispatcher
 import com.android.systemui.dump.DumpManager
@@ -47,9 +48,11 @@ private const val KEY = "KEY"
 private const val KEY_2 = "KEY_2"
 private const val KEY_MEDIA_SMARTSPACE = "MEDIA_SMARTSPACE_ID"
 private const val 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 fun <T> anyObject(): T {
@@ -210,6 +213,95 @@ class MediaDataManagerTest : SysuiTestCase() {
         verify(listener).onMediaDataRemoved(eq(KEY))
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun testOnNotificationAdded_emptyTitle_hasPlaceholder() {
+        // When the manager has a notification with an empty title
+        val listener = mock(MediaDataManager.Listener::class.java)
+        mediaDataManager.addListener(listener)
+        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)
+            )
+        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
+        val listener = mock(MediaDataManager.Listener::class.java)
+        mediaDataManager.addListener(listener)
+        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)
+            )
+        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
+        val listener = mock(MediaDataManager.Listener::class.java)
+        mediaDataManager.addListener(listener)
+        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)
+            )
+        assertThat(mediaDataCaptor.value.song).isEqualTo(SESSION_TITLE)
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun testOnNotificationRemoved_withResumption() {
         // GIVEN that the manager has a notification with a resume action