diff --git a/src/manifest.js b/src/manifest.js
index 99587493f..66ae68fb4 100644
--- a/src/manifest.js
+++ b/src/manifest.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import videojs from 'video.js';
 import window from 'global/window';
 import { Parser as M3u8Parser } from 'm3u8-parser';
 import { resolveUrl } from './resolve-url';
-import { getLastParts } from './playlist.js';
+import { getLastParts, isAudioOnly } from './playlist.js';
 
 const { log } = videojs;
 
@@ -279,11 +279,26 @@ export const addPropertiesToMaster = (master, uri) => {
       master.playlists[i].uri = phonyUri;
     }
   }
+  const audioOnlyMaster = isAudioOnly(master);
 
   forEachMediaGroup(master, (properties, mediaType, groupKey, labelKey) => {
     const groupId = `placeholder-uri-${mediaType}-${groupKey}-${labelKey}`;
 
+    // add a playlist array under properties
     if (!properties.playlists || !properties.playlists.length) {
+      // If the manifest is audio only and this media group does not have a uri, check
+      // if the media group is located in the main list of playlists. If it is, don't add
+      // placeholder properties as it shouldn't be considered an alternate audio track.
+      if (audioOnlyMaster && mediaType === 'AUDIO' && !properties.uri) {
+        for (let i = 0; i < master.playlists.length; i++) {
+          const p = master.playlists[i];
+
+          if (p.attributes && p.attributes.AUDIO && p.attributes.AUDIO === groupKey) {
+            return;
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
       properties.playlists = [Object.assign({}, properties)];
     }
 
diff --git a/src/master-playlist-controller.js b/src/master-playlist-controller.js
index b84d6ae9b..001d9e141 100644
--- a/src/master-playlist-controller.js
+++ b/src/master-playlist-controller.js
@@ -397,12 +397,13 @@ export class MasterPlaylistController extends videojs.EventTarget {
    */
   getAudioTrackPlaylists_() {
     const master = this.master();
+    const defaultPlaylists = master && master.playlists || [];
 
     // if we don't have any audio groups then we can only
     // assume that the audio tracks are contained in masters
     // playlist array, use that or an empty array.
     if (!master || !master.mediaGroups || !master.mediaGroups.AUDIO) {
-      return master && master.playlists || [];
+      return defaultPlaylists;
     }
 
     const AUDIO = master.mediaGroups.AUDIO;
@@ -427,7 +428,7 @@ export class MasterPlaylistController extends videojs.EventTarget {
 
     // no active track no playlists.
     if (!track) {
-      return [];
+      return defaultPlaylists;
     }
 
     const playlists = [];
@@ -438,14 +439,29 @@ export class MasterPlaylistController extends videojs.EventTarget {
       if (AUDIO[group][track.label]) {
         const properties = AUDIO[group][track.label];
 
-        if (properties.playlists) {
+        if (properties.playlists && properties.playlists.length) {
           playlists.push.apply(playlists, properties.playlists);
-        } else {
+        } else if (properties.uri) {
           playlists.push(properties);
+        } else if (master.playlists.length) {
+          // if an audio group does not have a uri
+          // see if we have main playlists that use it as a group.
+          // if we do then add those to the playlists list.
+          for (let i = 0; i < master.playlists.length; i++) {
+            const playlist = master.playlists[i];
+
+            if (playlist.attributes && playlist.attributes.AUDIO && playlist.attributes.AUDIO === group) {
+              playlists.push(playlist);
+            }
+          }
         }
       }
     }
 
+    if (!playlists.length) {
+      return defaultPlaylists;
+    }
+
     return playlists;
   }
 
diff --git a/test/manifest.test.js b/test/manifest.test.js
index e29071070..0ac09c353 100644
--- a/test/manifest.test.js
+++ b/test/manifest.test.js
@@ -461,3 +461,22 @@ QUnit.module('manifest', function() {
     );
   });
 });
+
+QUnit.test('does not add placeholder properties if playlist is a master playlist', function(assert) {
+  const master = {
+    mediaGroups: {
+      AUDIO: {
+        default: {
+          en: {default: true}
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    playlists: [
+      {uri: 'foo', attributes: {AUDIO: 'default', CODECS: 'mp4a.40.2', BANDWIDTH: 20}}
+    ]
+  };
+
+  addPropertiesToMaster(master, 'some-uri');
+
+  assert.notOk(master.mediaGroups.AUDIO.default.en.playlists, 'did not add playlists');
+});
diff --git a/test/master-playlist-controller.test.js b/test/master-playlist-controller.test.js
index 68efb8553..618b0a7e1 100644
--- a/test/master-playlist-controller.test.js
+++ b/test/master-playlist-controller.test.js
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ const sharedHooks = {
 
 QUnit.module('MasterPlaylistController', sharedHooks);
 
-QUnit.test('getAudioTrackPlaylists_', function(assert) {
+QUnit.test('getAudioTrackPlaylists_ works', function(assert) {
   const mpc = this.masterPlaylistController;
   const master = {playlists: [{uri: 'testing'}]};
 
@@ -176,6 +176,98 @@ QUnit.test('getAudioTrackPlaylists_', function(assert) {
 
 });
 
+QUnit.test('getAudioTrackPlaylists_ without track', function(assert) {
+  const mpc = this.masterPlaylistController;
+  const master = {playlists: [{uri: 'testing'}]};
+
+  mpc.master = () => master;
+
+  master.mediaGroups = {
+    AUDIO: {
+      main: {
+        en: {label: 'en', playlists: [{uri: 'foo'}, {uri: 'bar'}]},
+        fr: {label: 'fr', playlists: [{uri: 'foo-fr'}, {uri: 'bar-fr'}]}
+      }
+    }
+  };
+
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    mpc.getAudioTrackPlaylists_(),
+    master.playlists,
+    'no default track, returns master playlists.'
+  );
+
+  mpc.mediaTypes_.AUDIO.groups = {foo: [{}]};
+  mpc.mediaTypes_.AUDIO.activeTrack = () => null;
+
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    mpc.getAudioTrackPlaylists_(),
+    master.playlists,
+    'no active track, returns master playlists.'
+  );
+
+});
+
+QUnit.test('getAudioTrackPlaylists_ with track but groups are main playlists', function(assert) {
+  const mpc = this.masterPlaylistController;
+  const master = {playlists: [
+    {uri: '720-audio', attributes: {AUDIO: '720'}},
+    {uri: '1080-audio', attributes: {AUDIO: '1080'}}
+  ]};
+
+  mpc.master = () => master;
+
+  master.mediaGroups = {
+    AUDIO: {
+      720: {
+        audio: {default: true, label: 'audio'}
+      },
+      1080: {
+        audio: {default: true, label: 'audio'}
+      }
+    }
+  };
+
+  mpc.mediaTypes_.AUDIO.groups = {foo: [{}]};
+  mpc.mediaTypes_.AUDIO.activeTrack = () => ({label: 'audio'});
+
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    mpc.getAudioTrackPlaylists_(),
+    [master.playlists[0], master.playlists[1]],
+    'returns all audio label playlists'
+  );
+});
+
+QUnit.test('getAudioTrackPlaylists_ invalid audio groups', function(assert) {
+  const mpc = this.masterPlaylistController;
+  const master = {playlists: [
+    {uri: 'foo-playlist'},
+    {uri: 'bar-playlist'}
+  ]};
+
+  mpc.master = () => master;
+
+  master.mediaGroups = {
+    AUDIO: {
+      720: {
+        audio: {default: true, label: 'audio'}
+      },
+      1080: {
+        audio: {default: true, label: 'audio'}
+      }
+    }
+  };
+
+  mpc.mediaTypes_.AUDIO.groups = {foo: [{}]};
+  mpc.mediaTypes_.AUDIO.activeTrack = () => ({label: 'audio'});
+
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    mpc.getAudioTrackPlaylists_(),
+    master.playlists,
+    'returns all master playlists'
+  );
+});
+
 QUnit.test('throws error when given an empty URL', function(assert) {
   const options = {
     src: 'test',