diff --git a/lib/player.py b/lib/player.py
index d5545b951..9e69d0e96 100644
--- a/lib/player.py
+++ b/lib/player.py
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ def playAudioPlaylist(self, playlist, startpos=-1, fanart=None):
         self.play(plist, startpos=startpos)
 
     def createTrackListItem(self, track, fanart=None, index=0):
-        data = base64.urlsafe_b64encode(track.serialize())
+        data = base64.urlsafe_b64encode(track.serialize().encode("utf8")).decode("utf8")
         url = 'plugin://script.plex/play?{0}'.format(data)
         li = xbmcgui.ListItem(track.title, path=url)
         li.setInfo('music', {