diff --git a/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/IOSVideoPlayer.tsx b/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/IOSVideoPlayer.tsx
index e5bd3f48..b67093e0 100644
--- a/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/IOSVideoPlayer.tsx
+++ b/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/IOSVideoPlayer.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ const IOSVideoPlayer = ({ videoRef, currentTime, duration }: IOSVideoPlayerProps
     const [videoUrl, setVideoUrl] = useState<string>('');
     const [iosVideoRef, setIosVideoRef] = useState<HTMLVideoElement | null>(null);
     const [posterImage, setPosterImage] = useState<string | undefined>(undefined);
+    const [isAudioFile, setIsAudioFile] = useState(false);
 
     // Refs for hold-to-continue functionality
     const incrementIntervalRef = useRef<NodeJS.Timeout | null>(null);
@@ -41,12 +42,13 @@ const IOSVideoPlayer = ({ videoRef, currentTime, duration }: IOSVideoPlayerProps
         setVideoUrl(url);
 
         // Check if the media is an audio file and set poster image
-        const isAudioFile = url.match(/\.(mp3|wav|ogg|m4a|aac|flac)$/i) !== null;
+        const audioFile = url.match(/\.(mp3|wav|ogg|m4a|aac|flac)$/i) !== null;
+        setIsAudioFile(audioFile);
         
         // Get posterUrl from MEDIA_DATA, or use audio-poster.jpg as fallback for audio files when posterUrl is empty, null, or "None"
         const mediaPosterUrl = (typeof window !== 'undefined' && (window as any).MEDIA_DATA?.posterUrl) || '';
         const isValidPoster = mediaPosterUrl && mediaPosterUrl !== 'None' && mediaPosterUrl.trim() !== '';
-        setPosterImage(isValidPoster ? mediaPosterUrl : (isAudioFile ? AUDIO_POSTER_URL : undefined));
+        setPosterImage(isValidPoster ? mediaPosterUrl : (audioFile ? AUDIO_POSTER_URL : undefined));
     }, [videoRef]);
 
     // Function to jump 15 seconds backward
@@ -128,22 +130,34 @@ const IOSVideoPlayer = ({ videoRef, currentTime, duration }: IOSVideoPlayerProps
                 </span>
             </div>
 
-            {/* iOS-optimized Video Element with Native Controls */}
-            <video
-                ref={(ref) => setIosVideoRef(ref)}
-                className="w-full rounded-md"
-                src={videoUrl}
-                controls
-                playsInline
-                webkit-playsinline="true"
-                x-webkit-airplay="allow"
-                preload="auto"
-                crossOrigin="anonymous"
-                poster={posterImage}
-            >
-                <source src={videoUrl} type="video/mp4" />
-                <p>Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video.</p>
-            </video>
+            {/* Video container with persistent background for audio files */}
+            <div className="ios-video-wrapper">
+                {/* Persistent background image for audio files (Safari fix) */}
+                {isAudioFile && posterImage && (
+                    <div 
+                        className="ios-audio-poster-background" 
+                        style={{ backgroundImage: `url(${posterImage})` }}
+                        aria-hidden="true"
+                    />
+                )}
+                
+                {/* iOS-optimized Video Element with Native Controls */}
+                <video
+                    ref={(ref) => setIosVideoRef(ref)}
+                    className={`w-full rounded-md ${isAudioFile && posterImage ? 'audio-with-poster' : ''}`}
+                    src={videoUrl}
+                    controls
+                    playsInline
+                    webkit-playsinline="true"
+                    x-webkit-airplay="allow"
+                    preload="auto"
+                    crossOrigin="anonymous"
+                    poster={posterImage}
+                >
+                    <source src={videoUrl} type="video/mp4" />
+                    <p>Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video.</p>
+                </video>
+            </div>
 
             {/* iOS Video Skip Controls */}
             <div className="ios-skip-controls mt-3 flex justify-center gap-4">
diff --git a/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/VideoPlayer.tsx b/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/VideoPlayer.tsx
index 1fc874d2..75dc6515 100644
--- a/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/VideoPlayer.tsx
+++ b/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/VideoPlayer.tsx
@@ -353,8 +353,18 @@ const VideoPlayer: React.FC<VideoPlayerProps> = ({
 
     return (
         <div className="video-player-container">
+            {/* Persistent background image for audio files (Safari fix) */}
+            {isAudioFile && posterImage && (
+                <div 
+                    className="audio-poster-background" 
+                    style={{ backgroundImage: `url(${posterImage})` }}
+                    aria-hidden="true"
+                />
+            )}
+            
             <video
                 ref={videoRef}
+                className={isAudioFile && posterImage ? 'audio-with-poster' : ''}
                 preload="metadata"
                 crossOrigin="anonymous"
                 onClick={handleVideoClick}
diff --git a/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/styles/IOSVideoPlayer.css b/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/styles/IOSVideoPlayer.css
index fcd7a2ca..e0f542a5 100644
--- a/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/styles/IOSVideoPlayer.css
+++ b/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/styles/IOSVideoPlayer.css
@@ -8,12 +8,40 @@
     overflow: hidden;
 }
 
+/* Video wrapper for positioning background */
+.ios-video-wrapper {
+    position: relative;
+    width: 100%;
+    background-color: black;
+    border-radius: 0.5rem;
+    overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+/* Persistent background poster for audio files (Safari fix) */
+.ios-audio-poster-background {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 0;
+    left: 0;
+    width: 100%;
+    height: 100%;
+    background-size: contain;
+    background-position: center;
+    background-repeat: no-repeat;
+    z-index: -1;
+    pointer-events: none;
+}
+
 .ios-video-player-container video {
+    position: relative;
     width: 100%;
     height: auto;
     max-height: 360px;
     aspect-ratio: 16/9;
-    background-color: black;
+}
+
+/* Make video transparent only for audio files with poster so background shows through */
+.ios-video-player-container video.audio-with-poster {
+    background-color: transparent;
 }
 
 .ios-time-display {
diff --git a/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/styles/VideoPlayer.css b/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/styles/VideoPlayer.css
index c0897c7f..5744e5bb 100644
--- a/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/styles/VideoPlayer.css
+++ b/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/styles/VideoPlayer.css
@@ -76,10 +76,26 @@
         user-select: none;
     }
 
+    /* Persistent background poster for audio files (Safari fix) */
+    .audio-poster-background {
+        position: absolute;
+        top: 0;
+        left: 0;
+        width: 100%;
+        height: 100%;
+        background-size: contain;
+        background-position: center;
+        background-repeat: no-repeat;
+        z-index: 1;
+        pointer-events: none;
+    }
+
     .video-player-container video {
+        position: relative;
         width: 100%;
         height: 100%;
         cursor: pointer;
+        z-index: 2;
         /* Force hardware acceleration */
         transform: translateZ(0);
         -webkit-transform: translateZ(0);
@@ -88,6 +104,11 @@
         user-select: none;
     }
 
+    /* Make video transparent only for audio files with poster so background shows through */
+    .video-player-container video.audio-with-poster {
+        background: transparent;
+    }
+
     /* iOS-specific styles */
     @supports (-webkit-touch-callout: none) {
         .video-player-container video {
@@ -109,6 +130,7 @@
         opacity: 0;
         transition: opacity 0.3s;
         pointer-events: none;
+        z-index: 3;
     }
 
     .video-player-container:hover .play-pause-indicator {
@@ -187,6 +209,7 @@
         background: linear-gradient(transparent, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7));
         opacity: 0;
         transition: opacity 0.3s;
+        z-index: 3;
     }
 
     .video-player-container:hover .video-controls {
diff --git a/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/components/IOSVideoPlayer.tsx b/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/components/IOSVideoPlayer.tsx
index 6c901c24..2d7b4fdf 100644
--- a/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/components/IOSVideoPlayer.tsx
+++ b/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/components/IOSVideoPlayer.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ const IOSVideoPlayer = ({ videoRef, currentTime, duration }: IOSVideoPlayerProps
     const [videoUrl, setVideoUrl] = useState<string>('');
     const [iosVideoRef, setIosVideoRef] = useState<HTMLVideoElement | null>(null);
     const [posterImage, setPosterImage] = useState<string | undefined>(undefined);
+    const [isAudioFile, setIsAudioFile] = useState(false);
 
     // Refs for hold-to-continue functionality
     const incrementIntervalRef = useRef<NodeJS.Timeout | null>(null);
@@ -41,12 +42,13 @@ const IOSVideoPlayer = ({ videoRef, currentTime, duration }: IOSVideoPlayerProps
         setVideoUrl(url);
 
         // Check if the media is an audio file and set poster image
-        const isAudioFile = url.match(/\.(mp3|wav|ogg|m4a|aac|flac)$/i) !== null;
+        const audioFile = url.match(/\.(mp3|wav|ogg|m4a|aac|flac)$/i) !== null;
+        setIsAudioFile(audioFile);
         
         // Get posterUrl from MEDIA_DATA, or use audio-poster.jpg as fallback for audio files when posterUrl is empty, null, or "None"
         const mediaPosterUrl = (typeof window !== 'undefined' && (window as any).MEDIA_DATA?.posterUrl) || '';
         const isValidPoster = mediaPosterUrl && mediaPosterUrl !== 'None' && mediaPosterUrl.trim() !== '';
-        setPosterImage(isValidPoster ? mediaPosterUrl : (isAudioFile ? AUDIO_POSTER_URL : undefined));
+        setPosterImage(isValidPoster ? mediaPosterUrl : (audioFile ? AUDIO_POSTER_URL : undefined));
     }, [videoRef]);
 
     // Function to jump 15 seconds backward
@@ -128,22 +130,34 @@ const IOSVideoPlayer = ({ videoRef, currentTime, duration }: IOSVideoPlayerProps
                 </span>
             </div>
 
-            {/* iOS-optimized Video Element with Native Controls */}
-            <video
-                ref={(ref) => setIosVideoRef(ref)}
-                className="w-full rounded-md"
-                src={videoUrl}
-                controls
-                playsInline
-                webkit-playsinline="true"
-                x-webkit-airplay="allow"
-                preload="auto"
-                crossOrigin="anonymous"
-                poster={posterImage}
-            >
-                <source src={videoUrl} type="video/mp4" />
-                <p>Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video.</p>
-            </video>
+            {/* Video container with persistent background for audio files */}
+            <div className="ios-video-wrapper">
+                {/* Persistent background image for audio files (Safari fix) */}
+                {isAudioFile && posterImage && (
+                    <div 
+                        className="ios-audio-poster-background" 
+                        style={{ backgroundImage: `url(${posterImage})` }}
+                        aria-hidden="true"
+                    />
+                )}
+                
+                {/* iOS-optimized Video Element with Native Controls */}
+                <video
+                    ref={(ref) => setIosVideoRef(ref)}
+                    className={`w-full rounded-md ${isAudioFile && posterImage ? 'audio-with-poster' : ''}`}
+                    src={videoUrl}
+                    controls
+                    playsInline
+                    webkit-playsinline="true"
+                    x-webkit-airplay="allow"
+                    preload="auto"
+                    crossOrigin="anonymous"
+                    poster={posterImage}
+                >
+                    <source src={videoUrl} type="video/mp4" />
+                    <p>Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video.</p>
+                </video>
+            </div>
 
             {/* iOS Video Skip Controls */}
             <div className="ios-skip-controls mt-3 flex justify-center gap-4">
diff --git a/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/components/VideoPlayer.tsx b/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/components/VideoPlayer.tsx
index 36fcacfe..1c238ea7 100644
--- a/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/components/VideoPlayer.tsx
+++ b/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/components/VideoPlayer.tsx
@@ -353,8 +353,18 @@ const VideoPlayer: React.FC<VideoPlayerProps> = ({
 
     return (
         <div className="video-player-container">
+            {/* Persistent background image for audio files (Safari fix) */}
+            {isAudioFile && posterImage && (
+                <div 
+                    className="audio-poster-background" 
+                    style={{ backgroundImage: `url(${posterImage})` }}
+                    aria-hidden="true"
+                />
+            )}
+            
             <video
                 ref={videoRef}
+                className={isAudioFile && posterImage ? 'audio-with-poster' : ''}
                 preload="metadata"
                 crossOrigin="anonymous"
                 onClick={handleVideoClick}
diff --git a/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/styles/IOSVideoPlayer.css b/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/styles/IOSVideoPlayer.css
index fcd7a2ca..e0f542a5 100644
--- a/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/styles/IOSVideoPlayer.css
+++ b/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/styles/IOSVideoPlayer.css
@@ -8,12 +8,40 @@
     overflow: hidden;
 }
 
+/* Video wrapper for positioning background */
+.ios-video-wrapper {
+    position: relative;
+    width: 100%;
+    background-color: black;
+    border-radius: 0.5rem;
+    overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+/* Persistent background poster for audio files (Safari fix) */
+.ios-audio-poster-background {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 0;
+    left: 0;
+    width: 100%;
+    height: 100%;
+    background-size: contain;
+    background-position: center;
+    background-repeat: no-repeat;
+    z-index: -1;
+    pointer-events: none;
+}
+
 .ios-video-player-container video {
+    position: relative;
     width: 100%;
     height: auto;
     max-height: 360px;
     aspect-ratio: 16/9;
-    background-color: black;
+}
+
+/* Make video transparent only for audio files with poster so background shows through */
+.ios-video-player-container video.audio-with-poster {
+    background-color: transparent;
 }
 
 .ios-time-display {
diff --git a/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/styles/VideoPlayer.css b/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/styles/VideoPlayer.css
index 5b80678c..2bb21f2b 100644
--- a/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/styles/VideoPlayer.css
+++ b/frontend-tools/video-editor/client/src/styles/VideoPlayer.css
@@ -76,10 +76,26 @@
         user-select: none;
     }
 
+    /* Persistent background poster for audio files (Safari fix) */
+    .audio-poster-background {
+        position: absolute;
+        top: 0;
+        left: 0;
+        width: 100%;
+        height: 100%;
+        background-size: contain;
+        background-position: center;
+        background-repeat: no-repeat;
+        z-index: 1;
+        pointer-events: none;
+    }
+
     .video-player-container video {
+        position: relative;
         width: 100%;
         height: 100%;
         cursor: pointer;
+        z-index: 2;
         /* Force hardware acceleration */
         transform: translateZ(0);
         -webkit-transform: translateZ(0);
@@ -88,6 +104,11 @@
         user-select: none;
     }
 
+    /* Make video transparent only for audio files with poster so background shows through */
+    .video-player-container video.audio-with-poster {
+        background: transparent;
+    }
+
     /* iOS-specific styles */
     @supports (-webkit-touch-callout: none) {
         .video-player-container video {
@@ -109,6 +130,7 @@
         opacity: 0;
         transition: opacity 0.3s;
         pointer-events: none;
+        z-index: 3;
     }
 
     .video-player-container:hover .play-pause-indicator {
@@ -187,6 +209,7 @@
         background: linear-gradient(transparent, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7));
         opacity: 0;
         transition: opacity 0.3s;
+        z-index: 3;
     }
 
     .video-player-container:hover .video-controls {