diff --git a/RELEASENOTES.md b/RELEASENOTES.md
index b1dfb314b4..934e02adb0 100644
--- a/RELEASENOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASENOTES.md
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ Release notes
         ([#112](https://github.com/androidx/media/issues/112)).
     *   Don't start a foreground service with a pending intent for pause
         ([#167](https://github.com/androidx/media/issues/167)).
+    *   Manually hide the 'badge' associated with the notification created by
+        `DefaultNotificationProvider` on API 26 and API 27 (the badge is
+        automatically hidden on API 28+)
+        ([#131](https://github.com/androidx/media/issues/131)).
 *   RTSP:
     *   Add H263 fragmented packet handling
         ([#119](https://github.com/androidx/media/pull/119)).
diff --git a/libraries/session/src/main/java/androidx/media3/session/DefaultMediaNotificationProvider.java b/libraries/session/src/main/java/androidx/media3/session/DefaultMediaNotificationProvider.java
index 21d61d6e30..5a836aff70 100644
--- a/libraries/session/src/main/java/androidx/media3/session/DefaultMediaNotificationProvider.java
+++ b/libraries/session/src/main/java/androidx/media3/session/DefaultMediaNotificationProvider.java
@@ -577,6 +577,12 @@ public class DefaultMediaNotificationProvider implements MediaNotification.Provi
             channelId,
             context.getString(channelNameResourceId),
             NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW);
+    if (Util.SDK_INT <= 27) {
+      // API 28+ will automatically hide the app icon 'badge' for notifications using
+      // Notification.MediaStyle, but we have to manually hide it for APIs 26 (when badges were
+      // added) and 27.
+      channel.setShowBadge(false);
+    }
     notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(channel);
   }