diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/AlbumCard.test.ts b/web/src/lib/components/AlbumCard.test.ts
index d85c8926..81ee840f 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/AlbumCard.test.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/AlbumCard.test.ts
@@ -62,11 +62,13 @@ describe('AlbumCard', () => {
     expect(screen.queryByText(/1959/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
-  test('broken cover falls back to FALLBACK_COVER data URL', async () => {
+  test('broken cover falls back to FALLBACK_COVER asset', async () => {
     const { container } = render(AlbumCard, { props: { album } });
     const img = container.querySelector('img') as HTMLImageElement;
     await fireEvent.error(img);
-    expect(img.src).toBe(FALLBACK_COVER);
+    // jsdom resolves relative URLs against the test origin; assert containment
+    // rather than strict equality to keep the test agnostic of the host.
+    expect(img.src).toContain(FALLBACK_COVER);
   });
 
   test('+ queue button fetches album detail and calls enqueueTracks', async () => {
diff --git a/web/src/lib/media/covers.ts b/web/src/lib/media/covers.ts
index 7c53acab..5304a6fb 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/media/covers.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/media/covers.ts
@@ -1,26 +1,10 @@
-// Fallback cover — an inline SVG data URL showing a beamed-eighth-notes
-// glyph on a slate field. Used by AlbumCard / CompactTrackCard / PlayerBar's
-// onerror handler when the real cover fails (e.g. scanner didn't pick up
-// embedded art and there's no sidecar). Data URL avoids an extra HTTP
-// round-trip; SVG keeps it crisp at any size we render.
-//
-// The glyph is two filled note heads connected by a slanted beam — bolder
-// and more recognisable than a single-note silhouette, while staying muted
-// enough to read as a placeholder rather than real content.
-export const FALLBACK_COVER =
-  'data:image/svg+xml;utf8,' +
-  encodeURIComponent(
-    `<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet">
-       <rect width="100" height="100" fill="#1f1f23"/>
-       <g fill="#7a7a82">
-         <ellipse cx="30" cy="72" rx="10" ry="8"/>
-         <rect x="38" y="34" width="4" height="40"/>
-         <ellipse cx="68" cy="64" rx="10" ry="8"/>
-         <rect x="76" y="26" width="4" height="40"/>
-         <polygon points="38,34 80,26 80,34 38,42"/>
-       </g>
-     </svg>`
-  );
+// Fallback cover used when the real cover fails to load (e.g. scanner
+// didn't pick up embedded art and there's no sidecar). Served as a static
+// asset from web/static/placeholders/ so the operator can swap the artwork
+// without touching code. SvelteKit + adapter-static publishes everything
+// under web/static/ at the URL root, and the Go binary embeds the build
+// output, so this resolves identically in dev and production.
+export const FALLBACK_COVER = '/placeholders/album-fallback.svg';
 
 export function coverUrl(albumId: string): string {
   return `/api/albums/${albumId}/cover`;
diff --git a/web/static/placeholders/album-fallback.svg b/web/static/placeholders/album-fallback.svg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a864747f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/static/placeholders/album-fallback.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?>
+<!-- Uploaded to: SVG Repo, www.svgrepo.com, Generator: SVG Repo Mixer Tools -->
+<svg fill="#000000" height="800px" width="800px" version="1.1" id="Layer_1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" viewBox="0 0 512 512" xml:space="preserve">
+<g>
+	<g>
+		<path d="M503.319,5.939c-5.506-4.705-12.783-6.767-19.958-5.635L169.555,49.852c-12.04,1.901-20.909,12.28-20.909,24.47v99.097    v156.903H99.097C44.455,330.323,0,371.073,0,421.161C0,471.25,44.455,512,99.097,512c54.642,0,99.097-40.75,99.097-90.839v-66.065    V194.588l264.258-41.725v136.169h-49.548c-54.642,0-99.097,40.75-99.097,90.839s44.455,90.839,99.097,90.839    S512,429.959,512,379.871v-66.065V123.871V24.774C512,17.529,508.827,10.646,503.319,5.939z"/>
+	</g>
+</g>
+</svg>
\ No newline at end of file