diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e55d94c54..edd9f0e5f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -51,3 +51,4 @@ test/run_output
 test/read_conf
 test/run_input
 test/read_mixer
+test/dump_playlist
diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index c2f0fcf60..bd3b3f83d 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -136,6 +136,9 @@ mpd_headers = \
 	src/playlist_print.h \
 	src/playlist_save.h \
 	src/playlist_state.h \
+	src/playlist_plugin.h \
+	src/playlist_list.h \
+	src/playlist/m3u_playlist_plugin.h \
 	src/poison.h \
 	src/riff.h \
 	src/aiff.h \
@@ -180,6 +183,7 @@ src_mpd_SOURCES = \
 	$(mpd_headers) \
 	$(ARCHIVE_SRC) \
 	$(INPUT_SRC) \
+	$(PLAYLIST_SRC) \
 	$(TAG_SRC) \
 	$(DECODER_SRC) \
 	$(ENCODER_SRC) \
@@ -640,6 +644,15 @@ OUTPUT_SRC += src/output/solaris_output_plugin.c
 endif
 
 
+#
+# Playlist plugins
+#
+
+PLAYLIST_SRC = \
+	src/playlist/m3u_playlist_plugin.c \
+	src/playlist_list.c
+
+
 #
 # Filter plugins
 #
@@ -680,6 +693,7 @@ if ENABLE_TEST
 noinst_PROGRAMS = \
 	test/read_conf \
 	test/run_input \
+	test/dump_playlist \
 	test/run_decoder \
 	test/read_tags \
 	test/run_filter \
@@ -707,6 +721,22 @@ test_run_input_SOURCES = test/run_input.c \
 	$(ARCHIVE_SRC) \
 	$(INPUT_SRC)
 
+test_dump_playlist_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) \
+	$(ARCHIVE_CFLAGS) \
+	$(INPUT_CFLAGS)
+test_dump_playlist_LDADD = $(MPD_LIBS) \
+	$(ARCHIVE_LIBS) \
+	$(INPUT_LIBS) \
+	$(GLIB_LIBS)
+test_dump_playlist_SOURCES = test/dump_playlist.c \
+	src/conf.c src/tokenizer.c src/utils.c \
+	src/uri.c \
+	src/song.c src/tag.c src/tag_pool.c src/tag_save.c \
+	src/text_input_stream.c src/fifo_buffer.c \
+	$(ARCHIVE_SRC) \
+	$(INPUT_SRC) \
+	$(PLAYLIST_SRC)
+
 test_run_decoder_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) \
 	$(TAG_CFLAGS) \
 	$(ARCHIVE_CFLAGS) \
diff --git a/src/playlist/m3u_playlist_plugin.c b/src/playlist/m3u_playlist_plugin.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1eb2680a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/playlist/m3u_playlist_plugin.c
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2009 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#include "playlist/m3u_playlist_plugin.h"
+#include "playlist_plugin.h"
+#include "text_input_stream.h"
+#include "uri.h"
+#include "song.h"
+
+#include <glib.h>
+
+struct m3u_playlist {
+	struct playlist_provider base;
+
+	struct text_input_stream *tis;
+};
+
+static struct playlist_provider *
+m3u_open_stream(struct input_stream *is)
+{
+	struct m3u_playlist *playlist = g_new(struct m3u_playlist, 1);
+
+	playlist_provider_init(&playlist->base, &m3u_playlist_plugin);
+	playlist->tis = text_input_stream_new(is);
+
+	return &playlist->base;
+}
+
+static void
+m3u_close(struct playlist_provider *_playlist)
+{
+	struct m3u_playlist *playlist = (struct m3u_playlist *)_playlist;
+
+	text_input_stream_free(playlist->tis);
+	g_free(playlist);
+}
+
+static struct song *
+m3u_read(struct playlist_provider *_playlist)
+{
+	struct m3u_playlist *playlist = (struct m3u_playlist *)_playlist;
+	const char *line;
+
+	do {
+		line = text_input_stream_read(playlist->tis);
+		if (line == NULL)
+			return NULL;
+
+		while (*line != 0 && g_ascii_isspace(*line))
+			++line;
+	} while (line[0] == '#' || !uri_has_scheme(line));
+
+	return song_remote_new(line);
+}
+
+static const char *const m3u_suffixes[] = {
+	"m3u",
+	NULL
+};
+
+static const char *const m3u_mime_types[] = {
+	"audio/x-mpegurl",
+	NULL
+};
+
+const struct playlist_plugin m3u_playlist_plugin = {
+	.open_stream = m3u_open_stream,
+	.close = m3u_close,
+	.read = m3u_read,
+
+	.suffixes = m3u_suffixes,
+	.mime_types = m3u_mime_types,
+};
diff --git a/src/playlist/m3u_playlist_plugin.h b/src/playlist/m3u_playlist_plugin.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3cb4b8874
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/playlist/m3u_playlist_plugin.h
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2009 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MPD_PLAYLIST_M3U_PLAYLIST_PLUGIN_H
+#define MPD_PLAYLIST_M3U_PLAYLIST_PLUGIN_H
+
+extern const struct playlist_plugin m3u_playlist_plugin;
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/playlist_list.c b/src/playlist_list.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c9cd1304c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/playlist_list.c
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2009 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#include "playlist_list.h"
+#include "playlist_plugin.h"
+#include "playlist/m3u_playlist_plugin.h"
+#include "input_stream.h"
+#include "uri.h"
+#include "utils.h"
+
+#include <glib.h>
+
+#include <assert.h>
+
+static const struct playlist_plugin *const playlist_plugins[] = {
+	&m3u_playlist_plugin,
+	NULL
+};
+
+/** which plugins have been initialized successfully? */
+static bool playlist_plugins_enabled[G_N_ELEMENTS(playlist_plugins)];
+
+void
+playlist_list_global_init(void)
+{
+	for (unsigned i = 0; playlist_plugins[i] != NULL; ++i)
+		playlist_plugins_enabled[i] =
+			playlist_plugin_init(playlist_plugins[i], NULL);
+}
+
+void
+playlist_list_global_finish(void)
+{
+	for (unsigned i = 0; playlist_plugins[i] != NULL; ++i)
+		if (playlist_plugins_enabled[i])
+			playlist_plugin_finish(playlist_plugins[i]);
+}
+
+struct playlist_provider *
+playlist_list_open_uri(const char *uri)
+{
+	char *scheme;
+	struct playlist_provider *playlist;
+
+	assert(uri != NULL);
+
+	scheme = g_uri_parse_scheme(uri);
+	if (scheme == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+
+	for (unsigned i = 0; playlist_plugins[i] != NULL; ++i) {
+		const struct playlist_plugin *plugin = playlist_plugins[i];
+
+		if (playlist_plugins_enabled[i] &&
+		    stringFoundInStringArray(plugin->schemes, scheme)) {
+			playlist = playlist_plugin_open_uri(plugin, uri);
+			if (playlist != NULL)
+				break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	g_free(scheme);
+	return playlist;
+}
+
+static struct playlist_provider *
+playlist_list_open_stream_mime(struct input_stream *is)
+{
+	struct playlist_provider *playlist;
+
+	assert(is != NULL);
+	assert(is->mime != NULL);
+
+	for (unsigned i = 0; playlist_plugins[i] != NULL; ++i) {
+		const struct playlist_plugin *plugin = playlist_plugins[i];
+
+		if (playlist_plugins_enabled[i] &&
+		    stringFoundInStringArray(plugin->mime_types, is->mime)) {
+			playlist = playlist_plugin_open_stream(plugin, is);
+			if (playlist != NULL)
+				return playlist;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static struct playlist_provider *
+playlist_list_open_stream_suffix(struct input_stream *is, const char *suffix)
+{
+	struct playlist_provider *playlist;
+
+	assert(is != NULL);
+	assert(suffix != NULL);
+
+	for (unsigned i = 0; playlist_plugins[i] != NULL; ++i) {
+		const struct playlist_plugin *plugin = playlist_plugins[i];
+
+		if (playlist_plugins_enabled[i] &&
+		    stringFoundInStringArray(plugin->suffixes, suffix)) {
+			playlist = playlist_plugin_open_stream(plugin, is);
+			if (playlist != NULL)
+				return playlist;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+struct playlist_provider *
+playlist_list_open_stream(struct input_stream *is, const char *uri)
+{
+	const char *suffix;
+	struct playlist_provider *playlist;
+
+	if (is->mime != NULL) {
+		playlist = playlist_list_open_stream_mime(is);
+		if (playlist != NULL)
+			return playlist;
+	}
+
+	suffix = uri != NULL ? uri_get_suffix(uri) : NULL;
+	if (suffix != NULL) {
+		playlist = playlist_list_open_stream_suffix(is, suffix);
+		if (playlist != NULL)
+			return playlist;
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
diff --git a/src/playlist_list.h b/src/playlist_list.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b5ac52a6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/playlist_list.h
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2009 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MPD_PLAYLIST_LIST_H
+#define MPD_PLAYLIST_LIST_H
+
+struct playlist_provider;
+struct input_stream;
+
+/**
+ * Initializes all playlist plugins.
+ */
+void
+playlist_list_global_init(void);
+
+/**
+ * Deinitializes all playlist plugins.
+ */
+void
+playlist_list_global_finish(void);
+
+/**
+ * Opens a playlist by its URI.
+ */
+struct playlist_provider *
+playlist_list_open_uri(const char *uri);
+
+/**
+ * Opens a playlist from an input stream.
+ *
+ * @param is an #input_stream object which is open and ready
+ * @param uri optional URI which was used to open the stream; may be
+ * used to select the appropriate playlist plugin
+ */
+struct playlist_provider *
+playlist_list_open_stream(struct input_stream *is, const char *uri);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/playlist_plugin.h b/src/playlist_plugin.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3515af109
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/playlist_plugin.h
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2009 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MPD_PLAYLIST_PLUGIN_H
+#define MPD_PLAYLIST_PLUGIN_H
+
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+
+struct config_param;
+struct input_stream;
+struct tag;
+
+/**
+ * An object which provides the contents of a playlist.
+ */
+struct playlist_provider {
+	const struct playlist_plugin *plugin;
+};
+
+static inline void
+playlist_provider_init(struct playlist_provider *playlist,
+		       const struct playlist_plugin *plugin)
+{
+	playlist->plugin = plugin;
+}
+
+struct playlist_plugin {
+	const char *name;
+
+	/**
+	 * Initialize the plugin.  Optional method.
+	 *
+	 * @param param a configuration block for this plugin, or NULL
+	 * if none is configured
+	 * @return true if the plugin was initialized successfully,
+	 * false if the plugin is not available
+	 */
+	bool (*init)(const struct config_param *param);
+
+	/**
+	 * Deinitialize a plugin which was initialized successfully.
+	 * Optional method.
+	 */
+	void (*finish)(void);
+
+	/**
+	 * Opens the playlist on the specified URI.  This URI has
+	 * either matched one of the schemes or one of the suffixes.
+	 */
+	struct playlist_provider *(*open_uri)(const char *uri);
+
+	/**
+	 * Opens the playlist in the specified input stream.  It has
+	 * either matched one of the suffixes or one of the MIME
+	 * types.
+	 */
+	struct playlist_provider *(*open_stream)(struct input_stream *is);
+
+	void (*close)(struct playlist_provider *playlist);
+
+	struct song *(*read)(struct playlist_provider *playlist);
+
+	const char *const*schemes;
+	const char *const*suffixes;
+	const char *const*mime_types;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Initialize a plugin.
+ *
+ * @param param a configuration block for this plugin, or NULL if none
+ * is configured
+ * @return true if the plugin was initialized successfully, false if
+ * the plugin is not available
+ */
+static inline bool
+playlist_plugin_init(const struct playlist_plugin *plugin,
+		     const struct config_param *param)
+{
+	return plugin->init != NULL
+		? plugin->init(param)
+		: true;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Deinitialize a plugin which was initialized successfully.
+ */
+static inline void
+playlist_plugin_finish(const struct playlist_plugin *plugin)
+{
+	if (plugin->finish != NULL)
+		plugin->finish();
+}
+
+static inline struct playlist_provider *
+playlist_plugin_open_uri(const struct playlist_plugin *plugin, const char *uri)
+{
+	return plugin->open_uri(uri);
+}
+
+static inline struct playlist_provider *
+playlist_plugin_open_stream(const struct playlist_plugin *plugin,
+			    struct input_stream *is)
+{
+	return plugin->open_stream(is);
+}
+
+static inline void
+playlist_plugin_close(struct playlist_provider *playlist)
+{
+	playlist->plugin->close(playlist);
+}
+
+static inline struct song *
+playlist_plugin_read(struct playlist_provider *playlist)
+{
+	return playlist->plugin->read(playlist);
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/test/dump_playlist.c b/test/dump_playlist.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3134d95b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/dump_playlist.c
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2009 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#include "input_stream.h"
+#include "tag_pool.h"
+#include "tag_save.h"
+#include "conf.h"
+#include "song.h"
+#include "playlist_list.h"
+#include "playlist_plugin.h"
+
+#include <glib.h>
+
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+static void
+my_log_func(const gchar *log_domain, G_GNUC_UNUSED GLogLevelFlags log_level,
+	    const gchar *message, G_GNUC_UNUSED gpointer user_data)
+{
+	if (log_domain != NULL)
+		g_printerr("%s: %s\n", log_domain, message);
+	else
+		g_printerr("%s\n", message);
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+	const char *uri;
+	struct input_stream is;
+	bool success;
+	struct playlist_provider *playlist;
+	struct song *song;
+
+	if (argc != 2) {
+		g_printerr("Usage: dump_playlist URI\n");
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	uri = argv[1];
+
+	/* initialize GLib */
+
+	g_thread_init(NULL);
+	g_log_set_default_handler(my_log_func, NULL);
+
+	/* initialize MPD */
+
+	tag_pool_init();
+	config_global_init();
+	input_stream_global_init();
+	playlist_list_global_init();
+
+	/* open the stream and wait until it becomes ready */
+
+	success = input_stream_open(&is, uri);
+	if (!success) {
+		g_printerr("input_stream_open() failed\n");
+		return 2;
+	}
+
+	while (!is.ready) {
+		int ret = input_stream_buffer(&is);
+		if (ret < 0)
+			/* error */
+			return 2;
+
+		if (ret == 0)
+			/* nothing was buffered - wait */
+			g_usleep(10000);
+	}
+
+	/* open the playlist */
+
+	playlist = playlist_list_open_stream(&is, uri);
+	if (playlist == NULL) {
+		input_stream_close(&is);
+		g_printerr("Failed to open playlist\n");
+		return 2;
+	}
+
+	/* dump the playlist */
+
+	while ((song = playlist_plugin_read(playlist)) != NULL) {
+		g_print("%s\n", song->url);
+		if (song->tag != NULL)
+			tag_save(stdout, song->tag);
+
+		song_free(song);
+	}
+
+	/* deinitialize everything */
+
+	playlist_plugin_close(playlist);
+	input_stream_close(&is);
+	playlist_list_global_finish();
+	input_stream_global_finish();
+	config_global_finish();
+	tag_pool_deinit();
+
+	return 0;
+}