diff --git a/doc/config b/doc/config
index 39544c3f..492828b4 100644
--- a/doc/config
+++ b/doc/config
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
 #
 #song_list_format = "{%a - }{%t}|{$8%f$9}$R{$3(%l)$9}"
 #
-#song_status_format = "{(%l) }{%a - }{%t}|{%f}"
+#song_status_format = "{{{%a{ \"%b\"{ (%y)}} - }{%t}}|{%f}}"
 #
 #song_library_format = "{%n - }{%t}|{%f}"
 #
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
index 73ffab28..69840ec6 100644
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ void DefaultConfiguration(ncmpcpp_config &conf)
 	conf.empty_tag = "<empty>";
 	conf.song_list_columns_format = "(7f)[green]{l} (25)[cyan]{a} (40)[]{t} (30)[red]{b}";
 	conf.song_list_format = "{{%a - }{%t}|{$8%f$9}$R{$3(%l)$9}}";
-	conf.song_status_format = "{{(%l) }{%a - }{%t}|{%f}}";
+	conf.song_status_format = "{{{%a{ \"%b\"{ (%y)}} - }{%t}}|{%f}}";
 	conf.song_window_title_format = "{{%a - }{%t}|{%f}}";
 	conf.song_library_format = "{{%n - }{%t}|{%f}}";
 	conf.tag_editor_album_format = "{{(%y) }%b}";