diff --git a/backend/app/services/recommender.py b/backend/app/services/recommender.py
index 441bce1..01d6d8e 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/recommender.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/recommender.py
@@ -237,17 +237,44 @@ Return ONLY the JSON array, no other text."""
     except json.JSONDecodeError:
         return [], remaining
 
+    # Look up YouTube video IDs for embeddable players
+    import asyncio
+    from app.services.youtube_music import search_track as yt_search
+
+    def get_youtube_links(tracks: list[dict]) -> list[dict]:
+        """Get YouTube video IDs for a batch of tracks (sync, runs in thread)."""
+        results = []
+        for t in tracks:
+            artist = t.get("artist", "")
+            title = t.get("title", "")
+            try:
+                yt_results = yt_search(f"{artist} {title}")
+                if yt_results and yt_results[0].get("youtube_id"):
+                    yt = yt_results[0]
+                    results.append({
+                        "youtube_url": f"https://music.youtube.com/watch?v={yt['youtube_id']}",
+                        "image_url": yt.get("image_url"),
+                    })
+                    continue
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+            results.append({
+                "youtube_url": f"https://music.youtube.com/search?q={quote_plus(f'{artist} {title}')}",
+                "image_url": None,
+            })
+        return results
+
+    # Get YouTube data BEFORE any DB operations (avoids greenlet conflict)
+    tracks_to_lookup = [{"artist": r.get("artist", ""), "title": r.get("title", "")} for r in recs_data[:count]]
+    yt_data = await asyncio.to_thread(get_youtube_links, tracks_to_lookup)
+
     # Save to DB with YouTube Music links
     recommendations = []
-    for rec in recs_data:
-        if len(recommendations) >= count:
-            break
-
+    for i, rec in enumerate(recs_data[:count]):
         artist = rec.get("artist", "Unknown")
         title = rec.get("title", "Unknown")
         reason = rec.get("reason", "")
-
-        youtube_url = f"https://music.youtube.com/search?q={quote_plus(f'{artist} {title}')}"
+        yt = yt_data[i] if i < len(yt_data) else {}
 
         r = Recommendation(
             user_id=user.id,
@@ -255,10 +282,11 @@ Return ONLY the JSON array, no other text."""
             title=title,
             artist=artist,
             album=rec.get("album"),
+            image_url=yt.get("image_url"),
             reason=reason,
             score=rec.get("score"),
             query=query,
-            youtube_url=youtube_url,
+            youtube_url=yt.get("youtube_url", f"https://music.youtube.com/search?q={quote_plus(f'{artist} {title}')}"),
         )
         db.add(r)
         recommendations.append(r)
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/RecommendationCard.tsx b/frontend/src/components/RecommendationCard.tsx
index a5e10c8..1c00279 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/RecommendationCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/RecommendationCard.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useState } from 'react'
 import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom'
-import { Heart, ExternalLink, Music, ThumbsDown, Repeat, Share2, Check, Calendar, MapPin, Ticket, ChevronDown, ChevronUp } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Heart, ExternalLink, Music, ThumbsDown, Repeat, Share2, Check, Calendar, MapPin, Ticket, ChevronUp, Play, X } from 'lucide-react'
 import type { RecommendationItem, ConcertEvent } from '../lib/api'
 import { shareRecommendation, findConcerts } from '../lib/api'
 
@@ -19,6 +19,16 @@ export default function RecommendationCard({ recommendation, onToggleSave, onDis
   const [concertsOpen, setConcertsOpen] = useState(false)
   const [concerts, setConcerts] = useState<ConcertEvent[] | null>(null)
   const [concertsLoading, setConcertsLoading] = useState(false)
+  const [playerOpen, setPlayerOpen] = useState(false)
+
+  // Extract YouTube video ID from URL if it's a direct link
+  const getYouTubeVideoId = (url: string | null): string | null => {
+    if (!url) return null
+    const match = url.match(/[?&]v=([a-zA-Z0-9_-]{11})/)
+    return match ? match[1] : null
+  }
+
+  const videoId = getYouTubeVideoId(recommendation.youtube_url)
 
   const handleMoreLikeThis = () => {
     const q = `find songs similar to ${recommendation.artist} - ${recommendation.title}`
@@ -191,19 +201,49 @@ export default function RecommendationCard({ recommendation, onToggleSave, onDis
           </button>
 
           {recommendation.youtube_url && (
-            <a
-              href={recommendation.youtube_url}
-              target="_blank"
-              rel="noopener noreferrer"
-              className="p-2 rounded-full bg-red-50 text-red-600 hover:bg-red-100 transition-colors"
-              title="Watch on YouTube"
-            >
-              <ExternalLink className="w-4 h-4" />
-            </a>
+            videoId ? (
+              <button
+                onClick={() => setPlayerOpen(!playerOpen)}
+                className={`p-2 rounded-full transition-colors cursor-pointer border-none ${
+                  playerOpen
+                    ? 'bg-red-100 text-red-700'
+                    : 'bg-red-50 text-red-600 hover:bg-red-100'
+                }`}
+                title={playerOpen ? 'Close player' : 'Play'}
+              >
+                {playerOpen ? <X className="w-4 h-4" /> : <Play className="w-4 h-4" />}
+              </button>
+            ) : (
+              <a
+                href={recommendation.youtube_url}
+                target="_blank"
+                rel="noopener noreferrer"
+                className="p-2 rounded-full bg-red-50 text-red-600 hover:bg-red-100 transition-colors"
+                title="Search on YouTube Music"
+              >
+                <ExternalLink className="w-4 h-4" />
+              </a>
+            )
           )}
         </div>
       </div>
 
+      {/* YouTube Player */}
+      {playerOpen && videoId && (
+        <div className="border-t border-purple-50 bg-charcoal">
+          <iframe
+            width="100%"
+            height="152"
+            src={`https://www.youtube.com/embed/${videoId}?autoplay=1`}
+            title={`${recommendation.artist} - ${recommendation.title}`}
+            frameBorder="0"
+            allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"
+            allowFullScreen
+            className="block"
+          />
+        </div>
+      )}
+
       {/* Concert section */}
       {concertsOpen && (
         <div className="border-t border-purple-50 px-5 py-3 bg-orange-50/30">