diff --git a/include/vlc_input_item.h b/include/vlc_input_item.h
index dcd38c9a03..d869312bdf 100644
--- a/include/vlc_input_item.h
+++ b/include/vlc_input_item.h
@@ -291,8 +291,18 @@ VLC_API void input_item_Release(input_item_t *);
 #define vlc_gc_incref(i) input_item_Hold(i)
 #define vlc_gc_decref(i) input_item_Release(i)
 
-VLC_API int libvlc_MetaRequest(libvlc_int_t *, input_item_t *);
-VLC_API int libvlc_ArtRequest(libvlc_int_t *, input_item_t *);
+typedef enum input_item_meta_request_option_t
+{
+    META_REQUEST_OPTION_NONE = 0,
+    META_REQUEST_OPTION_LOCAL = 1 << 0,
+    META_REQUEST_OPTION_NETWORK = 1 << 1,
+    META_REQUEST_OPTION_ANY = 1 << 2
+} input_item_meta_request_option_t;
+
+VLC_API int libvlc_MetaRequest(libvlc_int_t *, input_item_t *,
+                               input_item_meta_request_option_t );
+VLC_API int libvlc_ArtRequest(libvlc_int_t *, input_item_t *,
+                              input_item_meta_request_option_t );
 
 /******************
  * Input stats
diff --git a/lib/media.c b/lib/media.c
index bac11da057..1f6fb9e8a1 100644
--- a/lib/media.c
+++ b/lib/media.c
@@ -633,8 +633,8 @@ static int media_parse(libvlc_media_t *media)
     input_item_t *item = media->p_input_item;
 
     /* TODO: Fetch art on need basis. But how not to break compatibility? */
-    libvlc_ArtRequest(libvlc, item);
-    return libvlc_MetaRequest(libvlc, item);
+    libvlc_ArtRequest(libvlc, item, META_REQUEST_OPTION_NONE);
+    return libvlc_MetaRequest(libvlc, item, META_REQUEST_OPTION_NONE);
 }
 
 /**************************************************************************
diff --git a/modules/gui/macosx/playlist.m b/modules/gui/macosx/playlist.m
index 217f82a0ad..01735a7ab0 100644
--- a/modules/gui/macosx/playlist.m
+++ b/modules/gui/macosx/playlist.m
@@ -913,7 +913,7 @@
 
         if (p_item) {
             if (p_item->i_children == -1)
-                libvlc_MetaRequest(p_intf->p_libvlc, p_item->p_input);
+                libvlc_MetaRequest(p_intf->p_libvlc, p_item->p_input, META_REQUEST_OPTION_NONE);
             else
                 msg_Dbg(p_intf, "preparsing nodes not implemented");
         }
@@ -938,7 +938,7 @@
         p_item = [[o_outline_view itemAtRow: indexes[i]] pointerValue];
 
         if (p_item && p_item->i_children == -1)
-            libvlc_ArtRequest(p_intf->p_libvlc, p_item->p_input);
+            libvlc_ArtRequest(p_intf->p_libvlc, p_item->p_input, META_REQUEST_OPTION_NONE);
     }
     [self playlistUpdated];
 }
diff --git a/modules/gui/macosx/playlistinfo.m b/modules/gui/macosx/playlistinfo.m
index a818f3f6e4..40bb85f8dd 100644
--- a/modules/gui/macosx/playlistinfo.m
+++ b/modules/gui/macosx/playlistinfo.m
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ static VLCInfo *_o_sharedInstance = nil;
         [o_image_well setImage: [NSImage imageNamed: @"noart.png"]];
     } else {
         if (!input_item_IsPreparsed(p_item))
-            libvlc_MetaRequest(VLCIntf->p_libvlc, p_item);
+            libvlc_MetaRequest(VLCIntf->p_libvlc, p_item, META_REQUEST_OPTION_NONE);
 
         /* fill uri info */
         char * psz_url = decode_URI(input_item_GetURI(p_item));
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ error:
 - (IBAction)downloadCoverArt:(id)sender
 {
     playlist_t * p_playlist = pl_Get(VLCIntf);
-    if (p_item) libvlc_ArtRequest(VLCIntf->p_libvlc, p_item);
+    if (p_item) libvlc_ArtRequest(VLCIntf->p_libvlc, p_item, META_REQUEST_OPTION_NONE);
 }
 
 - (input_item_t *)item
diff --git a/modules/gui/qt4/input_manager.cpp b/modules/gui/qt4/input_manager.cpp
index bce4002184..11fde76fd2 100644
--- a/modules/gui/qt4/input_manager.cpp
+++ b/modules/gui/qt4/input_manager.cpp
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ void InputManager::requestArtUpdate( input_item_t *p_item )
             if ( status & ( ITEM_ART_NOTFOUND|ITEM_ART_FETCHED ) )
                 return;
         }
-        libvlc_ArtRequest( p_intf->p_libvlc, p_item );
+        libvlc_ArtRequest( p_intf->p_libvlc, p_item, META_REQUEST_OPTION_NONE );
         /* No input will signal the cover art to update,
              * let's do it ourself */
         if ( b_current_item )
diff --git a/src/libvlc.c b/src/libvlc.c
index dd2f30ad88..946ce2e3f1 100644
--- a/src/libvlc.c
+++ b/src/libvlc.c
@@ -619,14 +619,15 @@ static void GetFilenames( libvlc_int_t *p_vlc, unsigned n,
  * Requests extraction of the meta data for an input item (a.k.a. preparsing).
  * The actual extraction is asynchronous.
  */
-int libvlc_MetaRequest(libvlc_int_t *libvlc, input_item_t *item)
+int libvlc_MetaRequest(libvlc_int_t *libvlc, input_item_t *item,
+                       input_item_meta_request_option_t i_options)
 {
     libvlc_priv_t *priv = libvlc_priv(libvlc);
 
     if (unlikely(priv->parser == NULL))
         return VLC_ENOMEM;
 
-    playlist_preparser_Push(priv->parser, item);
+    playlist_preparser_Push(priv->parser, item, i_options);
     return VLC_SUCCESS;
 }
 
@@ -634,13 +635,14 @@ int libvlc_MetaRequest(libvlc_int_t *libvlc, input_item_t *item)
  * Requests retrieving/downloading art for an input item.
  * The retrieval is performed asynchronously.
  */
-int libvlc_ArtRequest(libvlc_int_t *libvlc, input_item_t *item)
+int libvlc_ArtRequest(libvlc_int_t *libvlc, input_item_t *item,
+                      input_item_meta_request_option_t i_options)
 {
     libvlc_priv_t *priv = libvlc_priv(libvlc);
 
     if (unlikely(priv->parser == NULL))
         return VLC_ENOMEM;
 
-    playlist_preparser_fetcher_Push(priv->parser, item);
+    playlist_preparser_fetcher_Push(priv->parser, item, i_options);
     return VLC_SUCCESS;
 }
diff --git a/src/playlist/fetcher.c b/src/playlist/fetcher.c
index 97c5a0f190..079ac9c733 100644
--- a/src/playlist/fetcher.c
+++ b/src/playlist/fetcher.c
@@ -43,15 +43,19 @@
 /*****************************************************************************
  * Structures/definitions
  *****************************************************************************/
+typedef struct playlist_fetcher_entry_t
+{
+    input_item_t    *p_item;
+    input_item_meta_request_option_t i_options;
+} playlist_fetcher_entry_t;
+
 struct playlist_fetcher_t
 {
     vlc_object_t   *object;
     vlc_mutex_t     lock;
     vlc_cond_t      wait;
     bool            b_live;
-    int             i_waiting;
-    input_item_t    **pp_waiting;
-
+    DECL_ARRAY(playlist_fetcher_entry_t) waiting;
     DECL_ARRAY(playlist_album_t) albums;
     meta_fetcher_scope_t e_scope;
 };
@@ -72,8 +76,6 @@ playlist_fetcher_t *playlist_fetcher_New( vlc_object_t *parent )
     vlc_mutex_init( &p_fetcher->lock );
     vlc_cond_init( &p_fetcher->wait );
     p_fetcher->b_live = false;
-    p_fetcher->i_waiting = 0;
-    p_fetcher->pp_waiting = NULL;
 
     bool b_access = var_InheritBool( parent, "metadata-network-access" );
     if ( !b_access )
@@ -82,18 +84,19 @@ playlist_fetcher_t *playlist_fetcher_New( vlc_object_t *parent )
     p_fetcher->e_scope = ( b_access ) ? FETCHER_SCOPE_ANY : FETCHER_SCOPE_LOCAL;
 
     ARRAY_INIT( p_fetcher->albums );
+    ARRAY_INIT( p_fetcher->waiting );
 
     return p_fetcher;
 }
 
-void playlist_fetcher_Push( playlist_fetcher_t *p_fetcher,
-                            input_item_t *p_item )
+void playlist_fetcher_Push( playlist_fetcher_t *p_fetcher, input_item_t *p_item,
+                            input_item_meta_request_option_t i_options )
 {
     vlc_gc_incref( p_item );
 
+    playlist_fetcher_entry_t entry = { p_item, i_options };
     vlc_mutex_lock( &p_fetcher->lock );
-    INSERT_ELEM( p_fetcher->pp_waiting, p_fetcher->i_waiting,
-                 p_fetcher->i_waiting, p_item );
+    ARRAY_APPEND( p_fetcher->waiting, entry );
     if( !p_fetcher->b_live )
     {
         if( vlc_clone_detach( NULL, Thread, p_fetcher,
@@ -110,11 +113,9 @@ void playlist_fetcher_Delete( playlist_fetcher_t *p_fetcher )
 {
     vlc_mutex_lock( &p_fetcher->lock );
     /* Remove any left-over item, the fetcher will exit */
-    while( p_fetcher->i_waiting > 0 )
-    {
-        vlc_gc_decref( p_fetcher->pp_waiting[0] );
-        REMOVE_ELEM( p_fetcher->pp_waiting, p_fetcher->i_waiting, 0 );
-    }
+    for (int i=0;i<p_fetcher->waiting.i_size; i++)
+        vlc_gc_decref( p_fetcher->waiting.p_elems[i].p_item );
+    ARRAY_RESET( p_fetcher->waiting );
 
     while( p_fetcher->b_live )
         vlc_cond_wait( &p_fetcher->wait, &p_fetcher->lock );
@@ -122,6 +123,7 @@ void playlist_fetcher_Delete( playlist_fetcher_t *p_fetcher )
 
     vlc_cond_destroy( &p_fetcher->wait );
     vlc_mutex_destroy( &p_fetcher->lock );
+
     free( p_fetcher );
 }
 
@@ -364,12 +366,14 @@ static void *Thread( void *p_data )
     for( ;; )
     {
         input_item_t *p_item = NULL;
+        input_item_meta_request_option_t i_options;
 
         vlc_mutex_lock( &p_fetcher->lock );
-        if( p_fetcher->i_waiting != 0 )
+        if( p_fetcher->waiting.i_size != 0 )
         {
-            p_item = p_fetcher->pp_waiting[0];
-            REMOVE_ELEM( p_fetcher->pp_waiting, p_fetcher->i_waiting, 0 );
+            p_item = p_fetcher->waiting.p_elems[0].p_item;
+            i_options = p_fetcher->waiting.p_elems[0].i_options;
+            ARRAY_REMOVE( p_fetcher->waiting, 0 );
         }
         else
         {
diff --git a/src/playlist/fetcher.h b/src/playlist/fetcher.h
index 9d7cae110e..c7d9c2d7f8 100644
--- a/src/playlist/fetcher.h
+++ b/src/playlist/fetcher.h
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #ifndef _PLAYLIST_FETCHER_H
 #define _PLAYLIST_FETCHER_H 1
 
+#include <vlc_input_item.h>
+
 /**
  * Fetcher opaque structure.
  *
@@ -44,7 +46,8 @@ playlist_fetcher_t *playlist_fetcher_New( vlc_object_t * );
  * The input item is retained until the art fetching is done or until the
  * fetcher object is destroyed.
  */
-void playlist_fetcher_Push( playlist_fetcher_t *, input_item_t * );
+void playlist_fetcher_Push( playlist_fetcher_t *, input_item_t *,
+                            input_item_meta_request_option_t );
 
 /**
  * This function destroys the fetcher object and thread.
diff --git a/src/playlist/item.c b/src/playlist/item.c
index 088d8d77f2..92814819d9 100644
--- a/src/playlist/item.c
+++ b/src/playlist/item.c
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ static void GoAndPreparse( playlist_t *p_playlist, int i_mode,
     char *psz_album = input_item_GetAlbum( p_item->p_input );
     if( sys->p_preparser != NULL && !input_item_IsPreparsed( p_item->p_input )
      && (EMPTY_STR(psz_artist) || EMPTY_STR(psz_album)) )
-        playlist_preparser_Push( sys->p_preparser, p_item->p_input );
+        playlist_preparser_Push( sys->p_preparser, p_item->p_input, 0 );
     free( psz_artist );
     free( psz_album );
 }
diff --git a/src/playlist/preparser.c b/src/playlist/preparser.c
index df6b64f515..b44b9f8db8 100644
--- a/src/playlist/preparser.c
+++ b/src/playlist/preparser.c
@@ -71,9 +71,11 @@ playlist_preparser_t *playlist_preparser_New( vlc_object_t *parent )
     return p_preparser;
 }
 
-void playlist_preparser_Push( playlist_preparser_t *p_preparser, input_item_t *p_item )
+void playlist_preparser_Push( playlist_preparser_t *p_preparser, input_item_t *p_item,
+                              input_item_meta_request_option_t i_options )
 {
     vlc_gc_incref( p_item );
+    VLC_UNUSED( i_options );
 
     vlc_mutex_lock( &p_preparser->lock );
     INSERT_ELEM( p_preparser->pp_waiting, p_preparser->i_waiting,
@@ -90,10 +92,10 @@ void playlist_preparser_Push( playlist_preparser_t *p_preparser, input_item_t *p
 }
 
 void playlist_preparser_fetcher_Push( playlist_preparser_t *p_preparser,
-                                      input_item_t *p_item )
+             input_item_t *p_item, input_item_meta_request_option_t i_options )
 {
     if( p_preparser->p_fetcher != NULL )
-        playlist_fetcher_Push( p_preparser->p_fetcher, p_item );
+        playlist_fetcher_Push( p_preparser->p_fetcher, p_item, i_options );
 }
 
 void playlist_preparser_Delete( playlist_preparser_t *p_preparser )
@@ -185,7 +187,7 @@ static void Art( playlist_preparser_t *p_preparser, input_item_t *p_item )
     vlc_mutex_unlock( &p_item->lock );
 
     if( b_fetch && p_fetcher )
-        playlist_fetcher_Push( p_fetcher, p_item );
+        playlist_fetcher_Push( p_fetcher, p_item, 0 );
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/playlist/preparser.h b/src/playlist/preparser.h
index 1d298c7dc8..54b276fcc8 100644
--- a/src/playlist/preparser.h
+++ b/src/playlist/preparser.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #ifndef _PLAYLIST_PREPARSER_H
 #define _PLAYLIST_PREPARSER_H 1
 
+#include <vlc_input_item.h>
 /**
  * Preparser opaque structure.
  *
@@ -45,9 +46,11 @@ playlist_preparser_t *playlist_preparser_New( vlc_object_t * );
  * The input item is retained until the preparsing is done or until the
  * preparser object is deleted.
  */
-void playlist_preparser_Push( playlist_preparser_t *, input_item_t * );
+void playlist_preparser_Push( playlist_preparser_t *, input_item_t *,
+                              input_item_meta_request_option_t );
 
-void playlist_preparser_fetcher_Push( playlist_preparser_t *, input_item_t * );
+void playlist_preparser_fetcher_Push( playlist_preparser_t *, input_item_t *,
+                                      input_item_meta_request_option_t );
 
 /**
  * This function destroys the preparser object and thread.
diff --git a/src/playlist/thread.c b/src/playlist/thread.c
index b32ea28ac7..c41ea19220 100644
--- a/src/playlist/thread.c
+++ b/src/playlist/thread.c
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ static int PlayItem( playlist_t *p_playlist, playlist_item_t *p_item )
     if( !b_has_art || strncmp( psz_arturl, "attachment://", 13 ) )
     {
         PL_DEBUG( "requesting art for %s", psz_name );
-        libvlc_ArtRequest( p_playlist->p_libvlc, p_input );
+        libvlc_ArtRequest( p_playlist->p_libvlc, p_input, META_REQUEST_OPTION_NONE );
     }
     free( psz_arturl );
     free( psz_name );