diff --git a/src/music/spotify/controller.test.ts b/src/music/spotify/controller.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..901fc1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/music/spotify/controller.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,335 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeAll, afterAll, beforeEach, vi } from "vitest";
+import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
+import { Readable } from "node:stream";
+import { writeFileSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import type { Logger } from "pino";
+import type { SpotifyConfig } from "../../data/config.js";
+import type {
+  SpotifyAudioBackend,
+  SpotifyTrackEndedEvent,
+  SpotifyNowPlaying,
+} from "./backend.js";
+
+// Controllable, hoisted so the vi.mock factory can close over it.
+const bin = vi.hoisted(() => ({ supported: true, path: "" }));
+vi.mock("./binary.js", () => ({
+  isGoLibrespotSupported: () => bin.supported,
+  findGoLibrespot: () => bin.path,
+  resetGoLibrespotBinaryCache: () => {},
+  checkGoLibrespotAvailable: async () => bin.supported && !!bin.path,
+}));
+
+// Import AFTER vi.mock so the mocked binary module is used.
+const { SpotifyController } = await import("./controller.js");
+
+const existingBin = join(tmpdir(), `tsmb-golibrespot-${process.pid}`);
+const missingBin = join(tmpdir(), `tsmb-golibrespot-missing-${process.pid}`);
+
+beforeAll(() => {
+  writeFileSync(existingBin, "#!/bin/sh\n");
+});
+afterAll(() => {
+  try {
+    rmSync(existingBin);
+  } catch {
+    /* ignore */
+  }
+});
+beforeEach(() => {
+  bin.supported = true;
+  bin.path = existingBin;
+});
+
+class FakeBackend extends EventEmitter implements SpotifyAudioBackend {
+  startCalls = 0;
+  stopCalls = 0;
+  playCalls: string[] = [];
+  pauseCalls = 0;
+  resumeCalls = 0;
+  seekCalls: number[] = [];
+  ready = false;
+  startShouldReject = false;
+  playShouldReject = false;
+  readonly pcm = Readable.from([Buffer.alloc(0)]);
+
+  async start(): Promise<void> {
+    this.startCalls++;
+    if (this.startShouldReject) throw new Error("start boom");
+    this.ready = true;
+  }
+  stop(): void {
+    this.stopCalls++;
+    this.ready = false;
+  }
+  isReady(): boolean {
+    return this.ready;
+  }
+  async playTrack(uri: string): Promise<void> {
+    this.playCalls.push(uri);
+    if (this.playShouldReject) throw new Error("play boom");
+  }
+  async pause(): Promise<void> {
+    this.pauseCalls++;
+  }
+  async resume(): Promise<void> {
+    this.resumeCalls++;
+  }
+  async seek(ms: number): Promise<void> {
+    this.seekCalls.push(ms);
+  }
+  getPcmStream(): Readable {
+    return this.pcm;
+  }
+  getPositionMs(): number {
+    return 0;
+  }
+}
+
+const silentLogger = {
+  info() {},
+  error() {},
+  warn() {},
+  debug() {},
+  trace() {},
+  fatal() {},
+  child() {
+    return silentLogger;
+  },
+} as unknown as Logger;
+
+function cfg(over: Partial<SpotifyConfig> = {}): SpotifyConfig {
+  return {
+    enabled: true,
+    backend: "auto",
+    clientId: "",
+    clientSecret: "",
+    deviceName: "TSMusicBot",
+    bitrate: 320,
+    ...over,
+  };
+}
+
+function makeCtrl(over: {
+  config?: Partial<SpotifyConfig>;
+  backendFactory?: () => SpotifyAudioBackend;
+} = {}) {
+  const be = new FakeBackend();
+  const ctrl = new SpotifyController({
+    config: cfg(over.config),
+    workDir: "/tmp/work",
+    configDir: "/tmp/cfg",
+    logger: silentLogger,
+    backendFactory: over.backendFactory ?? (() => be),
+  });
+  return { ctrl, be };
+}
+
+describe("SpotifyController.isAvailable", () => {
+  it("true when enabled + supported + binary present", () => {
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl();
+    expect(ctrl.isAvailable()).toBe(true);
+  });
+  it("false when config disabled", () => {
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl({ config: { enabled: false } });
+    expect(ctrl.isAvailable()).toBe(false);
+  });
+  it("false when platform unsupported", () => {
+    bin.supported = false;
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl();
+    expect(ctrl.isAvailable()).toBe(false);
+  });
+  it("false when binary file is absent", () => {
+    bin.path = missingBin;
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl();
+    expect(ctrl.isAvailable()).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("SpotifyController.ensureStarted", () => {
+  it("starts the backend exactly once across repeated calls", async () => {
+    let built = 0;
+    const be = new FakeBackend();
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl({
+      backendFactory: () => {
+        built++;
+        return be;
+      },
+    });
+    expect(await ctrl.ensureStarted()).toBe(true);
+    expect(await ctrl.ensureStarted()).toBe(true);
+    expect(built).toBe(1);
+    expect(be.startCalls).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it("is idempotent under concurrent calls (single start)", async () => {
+    let built = 0;
+    const be = new FakeBackend();
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl({
+      backendFactory: () => {
+        built++;
+        return be;
+      },
+    });
+    const [a, b] = await Promise.all([ctrl.ensureStarted(), ctrl.ensureStarted()]);
+    expect(a).toBe(true);
+    expect(b).toBe(true);
+    expect(built).toBe(1);
+    expect(be.startCalls).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it("returns false and does not build a backend when unavailable", async () => {
+    let built = 0;
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl({
+      config: { enabled: false },
+      backendFactory: () => {
+        built++;
+        return new FakeBackend();
+      },
+    });
+    expect(await ctrl.ensureStarted()).toBe(false);
+    expect(built).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  it("returns false when backend.start() throws, and allows a later retry", async () => {
+    const be = new FakeBackend();
+    be.startShouldReject = true;
+    let built = 0;
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl({
+      backendFactory: () => {
+        built++;
+        return be;
+      },
+    });
+    expect(await ctrl.ensureStarted()).toBe(false);
+    // start failure clears the cached promise so a subsequent call retries.
+    be.startShouldReject = false;
+    expect(await ctrl.ensureStarted()).toBe(true);
+    expect(built).toBe(2);
+    expect(be.startCalls).toBe(2);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("SpotifyController.playTrack", () => {
+  it("ensures started then delegates the uri, returning true", async () => {
+    const { ctrl, be } = makeCtrl();
+    expect(await ctrl.playTrack("spotify:track:abc")).toBe(true);
+    expect(be.startCalls).toBe(1);
+    expect(be.playCalls).toEqual(["spotify:track:abc"]);
+  });
+  it("returns false when the controller is unavailable", async () => {
+    const { ctrl, be } = makeCtrl({ config: { enabled: false } });
+    expect(await ctrl.playTrack("spotify:track:abc")).toBe(false);
+    expect(be.playCalls).toEqual([]);
+  });
+  it("returns false when backend.playTrack rejects", async () => {
+    const be = new FakeBackend();
+    be.playShouldReject = true;
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl({ backendFactory: () => be });
+    expect(await ctrl.playTrack("spotify:track:abc")).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("SpotifyController transport delegation", () => {
+  it("pause/resume/seek forward to the backend after start", async () => {
+    const { ctrl, be } = makeCtrl();
+    await ctrl.ensureStarted();
+    await ctrl.pause();
+    await ctrl.resume();
+    await ctrl.seek(4200);
+    expect(be.pauseCalls).toBe(1);
+    expect(be.resumeCalls).toBe(1);
+    expect(be.seekCalls).toEqual([4200]);
+  });
+  it("pause/resume/seek are safe no-ops before start", async () => {
+    const { ctrl, be } = makeCtrl();
+    await expect(ctrl.pause()).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+    await expect(ctrl.resume()).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+    await expect(ctrl.seek(10)).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+    expect(be.pauseCalls).toBe(0);
+  });
+  it("getPcmStream returns the backend stream", async () => {
+    const { ctrl, be } = makeCtrl();
+    await ctrl.ensureStarted();
+    expect(ctrl.getPcmStream()).toBe(be.pcm);
+  });
+  it("getPcmStream throws before the backend is started", () => {
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl();
+    expect(() => ctrl.getPcmStream()).toThrow();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("SpotifyController event re-emission", () => {
+  it("re-emits backend trackEnded with the same payload", async () => {
+    const { ctrl, be } = makeCtrl();
+    await ctrl.ensureStarted();
+    const got: SpotifyTrackEndedEvent[] = [];
+    ctrl.on("trackEnded", (e) => got.push(e));
+    const evt: SpotifyTrackEndedEvent = { uri: "spotify:track:x", reason: "ended" };
+    be.emit("trackEnded", evt);
+    expect(got).toEqual([evt]);
+  });
+  it("re-emits backend metadata with the same payload", async () => {
+    const { ctrl, be } = makeCtrl();
+    await ctrl.ensureStarted();
+    const got: SpotifyNowPlaying[] = [];
+    ctrl.on("metadata", (m) => got.push(m));
+    const meta: SpotifyNowPlaying = {
+      uri: "spotify:track:x",
+      name: "Song",
+      artist: "Artist",
+      album: "Album",
+      coverUrl: "http://img",
+      durationMs: 1000,
+    };
+    be.emit("metadata", meta);
+    expect(got).toEqual([meta]);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("SpotifyController backend error handling (C3)", () => {
+  it("does NOT throw on a backend 'error' with no controller listener, and marks not-ready", async () => {
+    const be1 = new FakeBackend();
+    const be2 = new FakeBackend();
+    const backends = [be1, be2];
+    let built = 0;
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl({
+      backendFactory: () => {
+        built++;
+        return backends.shift()!;
+      },
+    });
+    await ctrl.ensureStarted();
+    expect(built).toBe(1);
+    // The controller itself has NO "error" listener. A raw re-emit would make
+    // Node throw here; the controller must swallow+log instead.
+    expect(() => be1.emit("error", new Error("sidecar boom"))).not.toThrow();
+    // Marked not-ready: a fresh ensureStarted relaunches a new backend.
+    expect(await ctrl.ensureStarted()).toBe(true);
+    expect(built).toBe(2);
+    expect(be2.startCalls).toBe(1);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("SpotifyController.stop", () => {
+  it("stops the backend and tears down state so a later start rebuilds", async () => {
+    const be1 = new FakeBackend();
+    const be2 = new FakeBackend();
+    const backends = [be1, be2];
+    const { ctrl } = makeCtrl({ backendFactory: () => backends.shift()! });
+    await ctrl.ensureStarted();
+    ctrl.stop();
+    expect(be1.stopCalls).toBe(1);
+    // After teardown getPcmStream is invalid again until re-started.
+    expect(() => ctrl.getPcmStream()).toThrow();
+    // A fresh ensureStarted builds a new backend.
+    expect(await ctrl.ensureStarted()).toBe(true);
+    expect(be2.startCalls).toBe(1);
+  });
+  it("stop before start is a safe no-op", () => {
+    const { ctrl, be } = makeCtrl();
+    expect(() => ctrl.stop()).not.toThrow();
+    expect(be.stopCalls).toBe(0);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/music/spotify/controller.ts b/src/music/spotify/controller.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3005244
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/music/spotify/controller.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+import { EventEmitter } from "node:events";
+import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
+import type { Readable } from "node:stream";
+import type { Logger } from "pino";
+import type { SpotifyConfig } from "../../data/config.js";
+import type {
+  SpotifyAudioBackend,
+  SpotifyTrackEndedEvent,
+  SpotifyNowPlaying,
+} from "./backend.js";
+import { isGoLibrespotSupported, findGoLibrespot } from "./binary.js";
+import { GoLibrespotBackend } from "./go-librespot.js";
+
+export interface SpotifyControllerOptions {
+  config: SpotifyConfig;
+  workDir: string;
+  configDir: string;
+  logger: Logger;
+  /** Injected for tests; defaults to constructing a real GoLibrespotBackend. */
+  backendFactory?: () => SpotifyAudioBackend;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Per-bot orchestrator for the go-librespot Spotify sidecar. Owns backend
+ * lifecycle, gates on availability (config + platform + binary), delegates
+ * transport, and re-emits the backend's "trackEnded"/"metadata" events so
+ * BotInstance can advance the queue exactly as it does for the ffmpeg path.
+ *
+ * Correction C3: this controller does NOT re-emit a raw "error" event (Node's
+ * EventEmitter throws on an unhandled "error"). It subscribes to the backend's
+ * "error", logs it, and marks itself not-ready so the next ensureStarted()
+ * relaunches the backend. Only the safe "trackEnded"/"metadata" events are
+ * re-emitted. getPcmStream() proxies the backend's SINGLE persistent stream
+ * (no per-attach PassThrough) to pair with the AudioPlayer detach-not-destroy
+ * behaviour and BotInstance's no-re-attach on spotify->spotify transitions.
+ */
+export class SpotifyController extends EventEmitter {
+  private readonly config: SpotifyConfig;
+  private readonly workDir: string;
+  private readonly configDir: string;
+  private readonly logger: Logger;
+  private readonly backendFactory: () => SpotifyAudioBackend;
+
+  private backend: SpotifyAudioBackend | null = null;
+  private started = false;
+  private startPromise: Promise<boolean> | null = null;
+
+  constructor(o: SpotifyControllerOptions) {
+    super();
+    this.config = o.config;
+    this.workDir = o.workDir;
+    this.configDir = o.configDir;
+    this.logger = o.logger;
+    this.backendFactory =
+      o.backendFactory ??
+      (() =>
+        new GoLibrespotBackend({
+          deviceName: this.config.deviceName,
+          bitrate: this.config.bitrate,
+          workDir: this.workDir,
+          configDir: this.configDir,
+          logger: this.logger,
+        }));
+  }
+
+  /** enabled in config AND on a supported OS AND the binary is present on disk. */
+  isAvailable(): boolean {
+    return (
+      this.config.enabled &&
+      isGoLibrespotSupported() &&
+      existsSync(findGoLibrespot())
+    );
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Idempotently start the backend. Returns false (without building a backend)
+   * when unavailable, so callers fall back to the Stage-1 sentinel message.
+   * A failed start clears the cached promise so a later call can retry.
+   */
+  async ensureStarted(): Promise<boolean> {
+    if (!this.isAvailable()) return false;
+    if (this.started) return true;
+    if (this.startPromise) return this.startPromise;
+
+    this.startPromise = (async () => {
+      try {
+        const backend = this.backendFactory();
+        backend.on("trackEnded", (e: SpotifyTrackEndedEvent) =>
+          this.emit("trackEnded", e),
+        );
+        backend.on("metadata", (m: SpotifyNowPlaying) =>
+          this.emit("metadata", m),
+        );
+        // C3: do NOT re-emit "error". Log and mark not-ready so the next
+        // ensureStarted() relaunches a fresh backend.
+        backend.on("error", (err?: unknown) => this.handleBackendError(err));
+        await backend.start();
+        this.backend = backend;
+        this.started = true;
+        return true;
+      } catch (err) {
+        this.logger.error({ err }, "Spotify backend failed to start");
+        this.startPromise = null;
+        return false;
+      }
+    })();
+    return this.startPromise;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * C3 backend-error handler. Never re-emits "error" (an unhandled "error" on
+   * an EventEmitter throws). Logs and marks the controller not-ready so the
+   * next ensureStarted() relaunches the backend.
+   */
+  private handleBackendError(err: unknown): void {
+    this.logger.error({ err }, "Spotify backend error; marking not-ready");
+    this.started = false;
+    this.startPromise = null;
+  }
+
+  /** Ensure started, then play the spotify: URI. False on any failure. */
+  async playTrack(uri: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    const ok = await this.ensureStarted();
+    if (!ok || !this.backend) return false;
+    try {
+      await this.backend.playTrack(uri);
+      return true;
+    } catch (err) {
+      this.logger.error({ err, uri }, "Spotify playTrack failed");
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async pause(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.backend) await this.backend.pause();
+  }
+
+  async resume(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.backend) await this.backend.resume();
+  }
+
+  async seek(ms: number): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.backend) await this.backend.seek(ms);
+  }
+
+  getPcmStream(): Readable {
+    if (!this.backend) {
+      throw new Error("Spotify backend not started");
+    }
+    return this.backend.getPcmStream();
+  }
+
+  /** Tear down the backend and reset lifecycle state (safe before start). */
+  stop(): void {
+    if (this.backend) {
+      this.backend.stop();
+      this.backend = null;
+    }
+    this.started = false;
+    this.startPromise = null;
+  }
+}