diff --git a/powerline/config_files/colorschemes/default.json b/powerline/config_files/colorschemes/default.json
index 7f234506..7bf84501 100644
--- a/powerline/config_files/colorschemes/default.json
+++ b/powerline/config_files/colorschemes/default.json
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@
 		"battery_gradient":          { "fg": "white_red", "bg": "gray0", "attr": [] },
 		"battery_full":              { "fg": "red", "bg": "gray0", "attr": [] },
 		"battery_empty":             { "fg": "white", "bg": "gray0", "attr": [] },
-		"now_playing":               { "fg": "gray10", "bg": "black", "attr": [] },
+		"now_playing":               "player",
+		"player":                    { "fg": "gray10", "bg": "black", "attr": [] },
 		"user":                      { "fg": "white", "bg": "darkblue", "attr": ["bold"] },
 		"superuser":                 { "fg": "white", "bg": "brightred", "attr": ["bold"] },
 		"branch":                    { "fg": "gray9", "bg": "gray2", "attr": [] },
diff --git a/powerline/segments/common/players.py b/powerline/segments/common/players.py
index 1dedebba..57e5e403 100644
--- a/powerline/segments/common/players.py
+++ b/powerline/segments/common/players.py
@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@ class PlayerSegment(Segment):
 			return None
 		stats.update(func_stats)
 		stats['state_symbol'] = state_symbols.get(stats['state'])
-		return format.format(**stats)
+		return [{
+			'contents': format.format(**stats),
+			'highlight_group': ['player_' + (stats['state'] or 'fallback'), 'player', 'now_playing'],
+		}]
 
 	def argspecobjs(self):
 		for ret in super(PlayerSegment, self).argspecobjs():
@@ -71,6 +74,8 @@ This player segment should be added like this:
 
 (with additional ``"args": {{…}}`` if needed).
 
+Highlight groups used: ``player_fallback`` or ``player``, ``player_play`` or ``player``, ``player_pause`` or ``player``, ``player_stop`` or ``player``.
+
 :param str format:
 	Format used for displaying data from player. Should be a str.format-like 
 	string with the following keyword parameters: