diff --git a/mopidy/backends/base.py b/mopidy/backends/base.py
index 4e8d8163..dc8a87ad 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/base.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/base.py
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ class BaseBackend(object):
         return None
 
 # Status methods
+    def status_bitrate(self):
+        return 0
+
     def status_consume(self):
         return 0
 
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/spotify.py b/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
index 7fd5b052..a5648429 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
@@ -194,6 +194,9 @@ class SpotifyBackend(BaseBackend):
 
 # Status methods
 
+    def status_bitrate(self):
+        return 320
+
     def status_playlist(self):
         return self._current_playlist_version
 
diff --git a/mopidy/handler.py b/mopidy/handler.py
index 277146fb..70489324 100644
--- a/mopidy/handler.py
+++ b/mopidy/handler.py
@@ -394,6 +394,7 @@ class MpdHandler(object):
         ]
         if self.backend.state in (self.backend.PLAY, self.backend.PAUSE):
             result.append(('time', self.backend.status_time()))
+            result.append(('bitrate', self.backend.status_bitrate()))
         return result
 
     @register(r'^swap (?P<songpos1>\d+) (?P<songpos2>\d+)$')