diff --git a/server/subsonic/helpers.go b/server/subsonic/helpers.go
index 6922f0683..d8ec8451b 100644
--- a/server/subsonic/helpers.go
+++ b/server/subsonic/helpers.go
@@ -493,6 +493,11 @@ func mapExplicitStatus(explicitStatus string) string {
 	return ""
 }
 
+// sanitizeRole strips the TTML x- prefix from role values for the API.
+func sanitizeRole(role string) string {
+	return strings.TrimPrefix(role, "x-")
+}
+
 func buildStructuredLyric(mf *model.MediaFile, lyrics model.Lyrics, enhanced bool) responses.StructuredLyric {
 	lines := make([]responses.Line, len(lyrics.Line))
 	var cueLines []responses.CueLine
@@ -510,12 +515,16 @@ func buildStructuredLyric(mf *model.MediaFile, lyrics model.Lyrics, enhanced boo
 		roleOrder := make([]string, 0, 2)
 		cuesByRole := make(map[string][]responses.LyricCue)
 		for _, cue := range line.Cue {
-			role := cue.Role
+			role := sanitizeRole(cue.Role)
 			if _, exists := cuesByRole[role]; !exists {
 				roleOrder = append(roleOrder, role)
 			}
+			var start int64
+			if cue.Start != nil {
+				start = *cue.Start
+			}
 			cuesByRole[role] = append(cuesByRole[role], responses.LyricCue{
-				Start: cue.Start,
+				Start: start,
 				End:   cue.End,
 				Value: cue.Value,
 			})
diff --git a/server/subsonic/media_retrieval_test.go b/server/subsonic/media_retrieval_test.go
index 7cf96fee5..fa3f20e2d 100644
--- a/server/subsonic/media_retrieval_test.go
+++ b/server/subsonic/media_retrieval_test.go
@@ -279,11 +279,7 @@ var _ = Describe("MediaRetrievalController", func() {
 					for k, realCue := range realCueLine.Cue {
 						expectedCue := expectedCueLine.Cue[k]
 						Expect(realCue.Value).To(Equal(expectedCue.Value))
-						if expectedCue.Start == nil {
-							Expect(realCue.Start).To(BeNil())
-						} else {
-							Expect(*realCue.Start).To(Equal(*expectedCue.Start))
-						}
+						Expect(realCue.Start).To(Equal(expectedCue.Start))
 						if expectedCue.End == nil {
 							Expect(realCue.End).To(BeNil())
 						} else {
@@ -521,12 +517,12 @@ var _ = Describe("MediaRetrievalController", func() {
 								Value: "konni",
 								Cue: []responses.LyricCue{
 									{
-										Start: &tokenStartA,
+										Start: tokenStartA,
 										End:   &tokenEndA,
 										Value: "ko",
 									},
 									{
-										Start: &tokenStartB,
+										Start: tokenStartB,
 										End:   &tokenEndB,
 										Value: "nni",
 									},
@@ -607,7 +603,7 @@ var _ = Describe("MediaRetrievalController", func() {
 								Value: "Hello echo",
 								Cue: []responses.LyricCue{
 									{
-										Start: &tokenStartA,
+										Start: tokenStartA,
 										End:   &tokenEndA,
 										Value: "Hello",
 									},
@@ -618,10 +614,10 @@ var _ = Describe("MediaRetrievalController", func() {
 								Start: &lineStart,
 								End:   &lineEnd,
 								Value: "Hello echo",
-								Role:  "x-bg",
+								Role:  "bg",
 								Cue: []responses.LyricCue{
 									{
-										Start: &tokenStartB,
+										Start: tokenStartB,
 										End:   &tokenEndB,
 										Value: "echo",
 									},
diff --git a/server/subsonic/responses/responses.go b/server/subsonic/responses/responses.go
index d19f99ca6..d74c118b3 100644
--- a/server/subsonic/responses/responses.go
+++ b/server/subsonic/responses/responses.go
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ type Line struct {
 }
 
 type LyricCue struct {
-	Start *int64 `xml:"start,attr,omitempty" json:"start,omitempty"`
+	Start int64  `xml:"start,attr"           json:"start"`
 	End   *int64 `xml:"end,attr,omitempty"   json:"end,omitempty"`
 	Value string `xml:"value,attr"           json:"value"`
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/audioplayer/lyrics.test.js b/ui/src/audioplayer/lyrics.test.js
index 7e0b0d105..6cb3a1b87 100644
--- a/ui/src/audioplayer/lyrics.test.js
+++ b/ui/src/audioplayer/lyrics.test.js
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ describe('lyrics helpers', () => {
           start: 1000,
           end: 3000,
           value: 'Hello world',
-          role: 'x-bg',
+          role: 'bg',
           cue: [{ start: 2000, end: 2500, value: 'world' }],
         },
       ],
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ describe('lyrics helpers', () => {
         value: 'Hello world',
         tokens: [
           { start: 1000, end: 1500, value: 'Hello', role: '' },
-          { start: 2000, end: 2500, value: 'world', role: 'x-bg' },
+          { start: 2000, end: 2500, value: 'world', role: 'bg' },
         ],
       },
     ])