diff --git a/app/models/sound_played.py b/app/models/sound_played.py
index 8a0e02a..c4a471d 100644
--- a/app/models/sound_played.py
+++ b/app/models/sound_played.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class SoundPlayed(db.Model):
     @classmethod
     def create_play_record(
         cls,
-        user_id: int,
+        user_id: int | None,
         sound_id: int,
         *,
         commit: bool = True,
diff --git a/app/services/music_player_service.py b/app/services/music_player_service.py
index 313b14d..3c35a5c 100644
--- a/app/services/music_player_service.py
+++ b/app/services/music_player_service.py
@@ -3,18 +3,27 @@
 import os
 import threading
 import time
+from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Any, Optional
+from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo
 
 import vlc
 from flask import current_app, request
 
 from app.models.playlist import Playlist
 from app.models.sound import Sound
+from app.models.sound_played import SoundPlayed
 from app.services.logging_service import LoggingService
 from app.services.socketio_service import socketio_service
 
 logger = LoggingService.get_logger(__name__)
 
+# Constants
+TRACK_START_THRESHOLD_MS = 500  # 500 milliseconds - threshold for considering a track as "starting fresh"
+STATE_CHANGE_THRESHOLD_MS = (
+    1000  # 1 second threshold for state change detection
+)
+
 
 class MusicPlayerService:
     """Service for managing a VLC music player with playlist support."""
@@ -47,6 +56,9 @@ class MusicPlayerService:
         self._track_ending_handled = (
             False  # Flag to prevent duplicate ending triggers
         )
+        self._track_play_tracked = (
+            False  # Flag to track if current track play has been logged
+        )
 
     def start_vlc_instance(self) -> bool:
         """Start a VLC instance with Python bindings."""
@@ -216,12 +228,41 @@ class MusicPlayerService:
                     self.current_track_index = index
                     # Reset track ending flag when loading a new track
                     self._track_ending_handled = False
+                    self._track_play_tracked = (
+                        False  # Reset play tracking for new track
+                    )
                     return True
             return False
         except Exception as e:
             logger.error(f"Error loading track at index {index}: {e}")
             return False
 
+    def _track_sound_play(self, sound_id: int) -> None:
+        """Track that a sound has been played."""
+        try:
+            # Use stored app instance or current_app
+            app_to_use = self.app or current_app
+            if app_to_use:
+                with app_to_use.app_context():
+                    # Get the sound and increment its play count
+                    sound = Sound.query.get(sound_id)
+                    if sound:
+                        sound.play_count += 1
+                        sound.updated_at = datetime.now(tz=ZoneInfo("UTC"))
+                        logger.info(
+                            f"Incremented play count for sound '{sound.name}' (ID: {sound_id})"
+                        )
+
+                    # Create a sound played record without user_id (anonymous play)
+                    SoundPlayed.create_play_record(
+                        user_id=None, sound_id=sound_id, commit=True
+                    )
+                    logger.info(
+                        f"Created anonymous play record for sound ID: {sound_id}"
+                    )
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error tracking sound play for sound {sound_id}: {e}")
+
     def _get_sound_file_path(self, sound: Sound) -> Optional[str]:
         """Get the file path for a sound, preferring normalized version."""
         try:
@@ -268,6 +309,9 @@ class MusicPlayerService:
             result = self.player.play()
             if result == 0:  # Success
                 self.is_playing = True
+                self._track_play_tracked = (
+                    False  # Track when we first start playing
+                )
                 self._emit_player_state()
                 return True
             return False
@@ -430,9 +474,10 @@ class MusicPlayerService:
             if not self.current_playlist_id:
                 return None
 
-            # Ensure we have Flask app context
-            if current_app:
-                with current_app.app_context():
+            # Use stored app instance or current_app
+            app_to_use = self.app or current_app
+            if app_to_use:
+                with app_to_use.app_context():
                     playlist = Playlist.query.get(self.current_playlist_id)
                     if playlist and 0 <= self.current_track_index < len(
                         playlist.playlist_sounds
@@ -610,11 +655,24 @@ class MusicPlayerService:
             elif self.is_playing and not old_playing:
                 self._track_ending_handled = False
 
+            # Track play event when song starts playing from beginning (but only once per track load)
+            # Only track if we're playing, haven't tracked yet, and current time is near the start (< 5 seconds)
+            if (
+                self.is_playing
+                and not self._track_play_tracked
+                and self.current_time >= 0
+                and self.current_time < TRACK_START_THRESHOLD_MS
+            ):
+                current_track = self.get_current_track()
+                if current_track:
+                    self._track_sound_play(current_track["id"])
+                    self._track_play_tracked = True
+
             # Emit updates if state changed significantly or periodically
             state_changed = (
                 old_playing != self.is_playing
                 or abs(old_time - self.current_time)
-                > 1000  # More than 1 second difference
+                > STATE_CHANGE_THRESHOLD_MS  # More than 1 second difference
             )
 
             # Always emit if playing to keep frontend updated