diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f45e6cc..ac17b8d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## v1.2.4
+
+- fixed bug where pause button was disabled and was not possible to stop playback
+
 ## v1.2.3
 
 - fixed slider bug to allow seeking-to when track is paused
diff --git a/bower.json b/bower.json
index fc6f66d..e85772c 100644
--- a/bower.json
+++ b/bower.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "ionic-audio",
   "description": "Ionic UI for the Cordova Media Plugin",
-  "version": "1.2.3",
+  "version": "1.2.4",
   "homepage": "https://github.com/arielfaur/ionic-audio.git",
   "license": "MIT",
   "private": false,
@@ -11,6 +11,6 @@
     "angular-mocks": "~1.3.x"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "ionic": "driftyco/ionic-bower#1.0.0-rc.5"
+    "ionic": "driftyco/ionic-bower#1.0.1"
   }
 }
diff --git a/dist/ion-audio.js b/dist/ion-audio.js
index 38c37d9..5661c3a 100644
--- a/dist/ion-audio.js
+++ b/dist/ion-audio.js
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ angular.module('ionic-audio', ['ionic'])
           restrict: 'EA',
           scope: {},
           require: ['ionAudioControls', '^^ionAudioTrack'],
-          controller: ['$scope', '$element', '$attrs', function($scope, $element, $attrs) {
+          controller: ['$scope', '$element', function($scope, $element) {
               var spinnerElem = $element.find('ion-spinner'), hasLoaded, self = this;
 
               spinnerElem.addClass('ng-hide');
@@ -334,19 +334,21 @@ angular.module('ionic-audio', ['ionic'])
     }])
     .directive('ionAudioPlay', [function() {
         return {
-            scope: true,
+            //scope: true,
             restrict: 'A',
             require: '^^ionAudioControls',
             link: function(scope, element, attrs, controller) {
+                var isLoading, currentStatus = 0;
 
                 var init = function() {
+                    isLoading = false;
                     element.addClass('ion-play');
                     element.removeClass('ion-pause');
                     element.text(attrs.textPlay);
                 };
 
                 var setText = function() {
-                    if (!attrs.textPlay || !attrs.textPause) return '';
+                    if (!attrs.textPlay || !attrs.textPause) return;
 
                     element.text((element.text() == attrs.textPlay ? attrs.textPause : attrs.textPlay));
                 };
@@ -357,22 +359,22 @@ angular.module('ionic-audio', ['ionic'])
                 };
 
                 element.on('click', function() {
-                    element.prop('disabled', true);
-                    // call main directive's play method
+                    if (isLoading) return;  //  debounce multiple clicks
+
                     controller.playTrack();
                     togglePlaying();
+                    if (currentStatus == 0) isLoading = true;
                 });
 
                 var unbindStatusListener = scope.$watch('track.status', function (status) {
                     //  Media.MEDIA_NONE or Media.MEDIA_STOPPED
                     if (status == 0 || status == 4) {
                         init();
+                    } else if (status == 2) {   // Media.MEDIA_RUNNING
+                        isLoading = false;
                     }
 
-                    // Media.MEDIA_RUNNING or Media.MEDIA_PAUSED
-                    if (status == 2 || status == 3) {
-                        element.prop('disabled', false);
-                    }
+                    currentStatus = status;
                 });
 
                 init();
@@ -417,8 +419,9 @@ angular.module('ionic-audio', ['ionic'])
                     return { visibility: angular.isDefined(attrs.displayInfo) && (scope.track.title || scope.track.artist) ? 'visible' : 'hidden'}
                 };
 
-                // disable slider if track hasn't loaded
+                // disable slider if track is not playing
                 var unbindStatusListener = scope.$watch('track.status', function(status) {
+                    // disable if track hasn't loaded
                     slider.prop('disabled', status == 0);   //   Media.MEDIA_NONE
                 });
 
@@ -443,7 +446,6 @@ angular.module('ionic-audio', ['ionic'])
                     if (angular.isDefined(unbindTrackListener)) {
                         unbindTrackListener();
                     }
-                    MediaManager.destroy();
                 });
             }
         }
diff --git a/example-audio/bower.json b/example-audio/bower.json
index 794c891..ff018bf 100644
--- a/example-audio/bower.json
+++ b/example-audio/bower.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "name": "example-audio",
   "private": "true",
   "devDependencies": {
-    "ionic": "driftyco/ionic-bower#1.0.0-rc.5"
+    "ionic": "driftyco/ionic-bower#1.0.1"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "ngCordova": "*"
diff --git a/example-audio/www/js/ion-audio.js b/example-audio/www/js/ion-audio.js
index 38c37d9..5661c3a 100644
--- a/example-audio/www/js/ion-audio.js
+++ b/example-audio/www/js/ion-audio.js
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ angular.module('ionic-audio', ['ionic'])
           restrict: 'EA',
           scope: {},
           require: ['ionAudioControls', '^^ionAudioTrack'],
-          controller: ['$scope', '$element', '$attrs', function($scope, $element, $attrs) {
+          controller: ['$scope', '$element', function($scope, $element) {
               var spinnerElem = $element.find('ion-spinner'), hasLoaded, self = this;
 
               spinnerElem.addClass('ng-hide');
@@ -334,19 +334,21 @@ angular.module('ionic-audio', ['ionic'])
     }])
     .directive('ionAudioPlay', [function() {
         return {
-            scope: true,
+            //scope: true,
             restrict: 'A',
             require: '^^ionAudioControls',
             link: function(scope, element, attrs, controller) {
+                var isLoading, currentStatus = 0;
 
                 var init = function() {
+                    isLoading = false;
                     element.addClass('ion-play');
                     element.removeClass('ion-pause');
                     element.text(attrs.textPlay);
                 };
 
                 var setText = function() {
-                    if (!attrs.textPlay || !attrs.textPause) return '';
+                    if (!attrs.textPlay || !attrs.textPause) return;
 
                     element.text((element.text() == attrs.textPlay ? attrs.textPause : attrs.textPlay));
                 };
@@ -357,22 +359,22 @@ angular.module('ionic-audio', ['ionic'])
                 };
 
                 element.on('click', function() {
-                    element.prop('disabled', true);
-                    // call main directive's play method
+                    if (isLoading) return;  //  debounce multiple clicks
+
                     controller.playTrack();
                     togglePlaying();
+                    if (currentStatus == 0) isLoading = true;
                 });
 
                 var unbindStatusListener = scope.$watch('track.status', function (status) {
                     //  Media.MEDIA_NONE or Media.MEDIA_STOPPED
                     if (status == 0 || status == 4) {
                         init();
+                    } else if (status == 2) {   // Media.MEDIA_RUNNING
+                        isLoading = false;
                     }
 
-                    // Media.MEDIA_RUNNING or Media.MEDIA_PAUSED
-                    if (status == 2 || status == 3) {
-                        element.prop('disabled', false);
-                    }
+                    currentStatus = status;
                 });
 
                 init();
@@ -417,8 +419,9 @@ angular.module('ionic-audio', ['ionic'])
                     return { visibility: angular.isDefined(attrs.displayInfo) && (scope.track.title || scope.track.artist) ? 'visible' : 'hidden'}
                 };
 
-                // disable slider if track hasn't loaded
+                // disable slider if track is not playing
                 var unbindStatusListener = scope.$watch('track.status', function(status) {
+                    // disable if track hasn't loaded
                     slider.prop('disabled', status == 0);   //   Media.MEDIA_NONE
                 });
 
@@ -443,7 +446,6 @@ angular.module('ionic-audio', ['ionic'])
                     if (angular.isDefined(unbindTrackListener)) {
                         unbindTrackListener();
                     }
-                    MediaManager.destroy();
                 });
             }
         }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 798eaa8..4572f83 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "ionic-audio",
   "private": false,
-  "version": "1.2.3",
+  "version": "1.2.4",
   "description": "Ionic UI for the Cordova Media Plugin",
   "repository": "https://github.com/arielfaur/ionic-audio.git",
   "license": "MIT",