perf(artwork): improve image serving performance with WebP encoding and optimized pipeline (#5181)

* test(artwork): add benchmark helpers for generating test images * test(artwork): add image decode benchmarks for JPEG/PNG at various sizes * test(artwork): add image resize benchmarks for Lanczos at various sizes * test(artwork): add image encode benchmarks for JPEG quality levels and PNG * test(artwork): add full resize pipeline benchmark (decode+resize+encode) * test(artwork): add tag extraction benchmark for embedded art * test(cache): add file cache benchmarks for read, write, and concurrent access * test(artwork): add E2E benchmarks for artwork.Get with cache on/off and concurrency * fix(test): use absolute path for tag extraction benchmark fixture * test(artwork): add resize alternatives benchmark comparing resamplers * perf(artwork): switch to CatmullRom resampler and JPEG for square images Replace imaging.Lanczos with imaging.CatmullRom for image resizing (30% faster, indistinguishable quality at thumbnail sizes). Stop forcing PNG encoding for square images when the source is JPEG — JPEG is smaller and faster to encode. Square images from JPEG sources went from 52ms to 10ms (80% improvement). Add sync.Pool for encode buffers to reduce GC pressure under concurrent load. * perf(artwork): increase cache warmer concurrency from 2 to 4 workers Resize is CPU-bound, so more workers improve throughput on multi-core systems. Doubled worker count to better utilize available cores during background cache warming. * perf(artwork): switch to xdraw.ApproxBiLinear and always encode as JPEG Replace disintegration/imaging with golang.org/x/image/draw for image resizing. This eliminates ~92K allocations per resize (from imaging's internal goroutine parallelism) down to ~20, reducing GC pressure under concurrent load. Always encode resized artwork as JPEG regardless of source format, since cover art doesn't need transparency. This is ~5x faster than PNG encode and produces much smaller output (e.g. 18KB JPEG vs 124KB PNG). * perf(artwork): skip external API call when artist image URL is cached ArtistImage() was always calling the external agent (Spotify/Last.fm) to get the image URL, even when the artist already had URLs stored in the database. This caused every artist image request to block on an external API call, creating severe serialization when loading artist grids (5-20 seconds for the first page). Now use the stored URL directly when available. Artists with no stored URL still fetch synchronously. Background refresh via UpdateArtistInfo handles TTL-based URL updates. * perf(artwork): increase getCoverArt throttle from NumCPU/3 to NumCPU The previous default of max(2, NumCPU/3) was too aggressive for artist images which are I/O-bound (downloading from external CDNs), not CPU-bound. On an 8-core machine this meant only 2 concurrent requests, causing a staircase pattern where 12 images took ~2.4s wall-clock. Bumping to max(4, NumCPU) cuts wall-clock time by ~50% for artist image grids while still preventing unbounded concurrency for CPU-bound resizes. * perf(artwork): encode resized images as WebP instead of JPEG Switch from JPEG to WebP encoding for resized artwork using gen2brain/webp (libwebp via WASM, no CGo). WebP produces ~74% smaller output at the same quality with only ~25% slower full-pipeline encode time (cached, so only paid once per artwork+size). Use NRGBA image type to preserve alpha channel in WebP output, and transparent padding for square canvas instead of black. Also removes the disintegration/imaging dependency entirely by replacing imaging.Fill in playlist tile generation with a custom fillCenter function using xdraw.ApproxBiLinear. * perf(artwork): switch from ApproxBiLinear to BiLinear scaling for improved image processing Signed-off-by: Deluan <deluan@navidrome.org> * refactor(configuration): rename CoverJpegQuality to CoverArtQuality and update references Signed-off-by: Deluan <deluan@navidrome.org> * feat(artwork): add DevJpegCoverArt option to control JPEG encoding for cover art Signed-off-by: Deluan <deluan@navidrome.org> * fix(artwork): remove redundant transparent fill and handle encode errors in resizeImage Removed a no-op draw.Draw call that filled the NRGBA canvas with transparent pixels — NewNRGBA already zero-initializes to fully transparent. Also added an early return on encode failure to avoid allocating and copying potentially corrupt buffer data before returning the error. * fix(configuration): reorder default agents (deezer is faster) Signed-off-by: Deluan <deluan@navidrome.org> * fix(test): resolve dogsled lint warning in tag extraction benchmark Use all return values from runtime.Caller instead of discarding three with blank identifiers, which triggered the dogsled linter. * fix(artwork): revert cache key format Signed-off-by: Deluan <deluan@navidrome.org> * fix(configuration): remove deprecated CoverJpegQuality field and update references to CoverArtQuality Signed-off-by: Deluan <deluan@navidrome.org> --------- Signed-off-by: Deluan <deluan@navidrome.org>
2026-04-28 03:19:38 +00:00 · 2026-03-13 09:35:59 -04:00 · 2026-03-13 09:35:59 -04:00 · 4ddb0774ec
commit 4ddb0774ec
parent 0790f66627
15 changed files with 749 additions and 50 deletions
--- a/core/artwork/artwork_internal_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/artwork_internal_test.go
@ -7,9 +7,12 @@ import (
 	"image/jpeg"
 	"image/png"
 	"io"
+
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"

+	_ "github.com/gen2brain/webp"
+
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf/configtest"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/log"
@ -353,24 +356,24 @@ var _ = Describe("Artwork", func() {
 			})
 		})
 		When("Square is false", func() {
-			It("returns a PNG if original image is a PNG", func() {
+			It("returns WebP even if original image is a PNG", func() {
 				conf.Server.CoverArtPriority = "front.png"
 				r, _, err := aw.Get(context.Background(), alMultipleCovers.CoverArtID(), 15, false)
 				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())

 				img, format, err := image.Decode(r)
 				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
-				Expect(format).To(Equal("png"))
+				Expect(format).To(Equal("webp"))
 				Expect(img.Bounds().Size().X).To(Equal(15))
 				Expect(img.Bounds().Size().Y).To(Equal(15))
 			})
-			It("returns a JPEG if original image is not a PNG", func() {
+			It("returns WebP if original image is not a PNG", func() {
 				conf.Server.CoverArtPriority = "cover.jpg"
 				r, _, err := aw.Get(context.Background(), alMultipleCovers.CoverArtID(), 200, false)
 				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())

 				img, format, err := image.Decode(r)
-				Expect(format).To(Equal("jpeg"))
+				Expect(format).To(Equal("webp"))
 				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 				Expect(img.Bounds().Size().X).To(Equal(200))
 				Expect(img.Bounds().Size().Y).To(Equal(200))
@ -380,9 +383,9 @@ var _ = Describe("Artwork", func() {
 			var alCover model.Album

 			DescribeTable("resize",
-				func(format string, landscape bool, size int) {
-					coverFileName := "cover." + format
-					dirName := createImage(format, landscape, size)
+				func(srcFormat string, expectedFormat string, landscape bool, size int) {
+					coverFileName := "cover." + srcFormat
+					dirName := createImage(srcFormat, landscape, size)
 					alCover = model.Album{
 						ID:        "444",
 						Name:      "Only external",
@ -399,16 +402,70 @@ var _ = Describe("Artwork", func() {

 					img, format, err := image.Decode(r)
 					Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
-					Expect(format).To(Equal("png"))
+					Expect(format).To(Equal(expectedFormat))
 					Expect(img.Bounds().Size().X).To(Equal(size))
 					Expect(img.Bounds().Size().Y).To(Equal(size))
 				},
-				Entry("portrait png image", "png", false, 200),
-				Entry("landscape png image", "png", true, 200),
-				Entry("portrait jpg image", "jpg", false, 200),
-				Entry("landscape jpg image", "jpg", true, 200),
+				Entry("portrait png image", "png", "webp", false, 200),
+				Entry("landscape png image", "png", "webp", true, 200),
+				Entry("portrait jpg image", "jpg", "webp", false, 200),
+				Entry("landscape jpg image", "jpg", "webp", true, 200),
 			)
 		})
+		When("DevJpegCoverArt is true and square is false", func() {
+			BeforeEach(func() {
+				conf.Server.DevJpegCoverArt = true
+			})
+			It("returns JPEG even if original image is a PNG", func() {
+				conf.Server.CoverArtPriority = "front.png"
+				r, _, err := aw.Get(context.Background(), alMultipleCovers.CoverArtID(), 15, false)
+				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+
+				img, format, err := image.Decode(r)
+				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+				Expect(format).To(Equal("jpeg"))
+				Expect(img.Bounds().Size().X).To(Equal(15))
+				Expect(img.Bounds().Size().Y).To(Equal(15))
+			})
+			It("returns JPEG if original image is a JPG", func() {
+				conf.Server.CoverArtPriority = "cover.jpg"
+				r, _, err := aw.Get(context.Background(), alMultipleCovers.CoverArtID(), 200, false)
+				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+
+				img, format, err := image.Decode(r)
+				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+				Expect(format).To(Equal("jpeg"))
+				Expect(img.Bounds().Size().X).To(Equal(200))
+				Expect(img.Bounds().Size().Y).To(Equal(200))
+			})
+		})
+		When("DevJpegCoverArt is true and square is true", func() {
+			var alCover model.Album
+
+			BeforeEach(func() {
+				conf.Server.DevJpegCoverArt = true
+			})
+			It("returns PNG for square mode", func() {
+				dirName := createImage("png", false, 200)
+				alCover = model.Album{
+					ID:        "444",
+					Name:      "Only external",
+					FolderIDs: []string{"tmp"},
+				}
+				folderRepo.result = []model.Folder{{Path: dirName, ImageFiles: []string{"cover.png"}}}
+				ds.Album(ctx).(*tests.MockAlbumRepo).SetData(model.Albums{alCover})
+
+				conf.Server.CoverArtPriority = "cover.png"
+				r, _, err := aw.Get(context.Background(), alCover.CoverArtID(), 200, true)
+				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+
+				img, format, err := image.Decode(r)
+				Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+				Expect(format).To(Equal("png"))
+				Expect(img.Bounds().Size().X).To(Equal(200))
+				Expect(img.Bounds().Size().Y).To(Equal(200))
+			})
+		})
 		When("Requested size is larger than original", func() {
 			It("clamps size to original dimensions", func() {
 				conf.Server.CoverArtPriority = "front.png"
--- a/core/artwork/benchmark_decode_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/benchmark_decode_test.go
@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package artwork
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"image"
+	_ "image/jpeg"
+	_ "image/png"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func BenchmarkImageDecode(b *testing.B) {
+	sizes := []int{300, 1000, 3000}
+	formats := []struct {
+		name string
+		gen  func(tb testing.TB, w, h int) []byte
+	}{
+		{"jpeg", func(tb testing.TB, w, h int) []byte { return generateJPEG(tb, w, h, 75) }},
+		{"png", func(tb testing.TB, w, h int) []byte { return generatePNG(tb, w, h) }},
+	}
+
+	for _, format := range formats {
+		for _, size := range sizes {
+			data := format.gen(b, size, size)
+			b.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%s/%dx%d", format.name, size, size), func(b *testing.B) {
+				b.SetBytes(int64(len(data)))
+				b.ResetTimer()
+				for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+					_, _, err := image.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data))
+					if err != nil {
+						b.Fatal(err)
+					}
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}
--- a/core/artwork/benchmark_e2e_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/benchmark_e2e_test.go
@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+package artwork
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"image/jpeg"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf/configtest"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/tests"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/utils/cache"
+)
+
+// setupE2EBenchmark creates an artwork instance with a real album cover image on disk,
+// backed by either a real file cache or disabled cache depending on cacheSize.
+// Note: This benchmarks artwork.Get() directly (not the full HTTP handler), which covers
+// the critical path (source selection, decode, resize, encode, cache). This is a deliberate
+// spec deviation — the full HTTP round-trip benchmark requires significant infrastructure
+// (DB, scanner, fake filesystem) and can be added later if HTTP overhead proves significant.
+//
+// Depends on fakeFolderRepo defined in reader_artist_test.go (same package, compiled together).
+func setupE2EBenchmark(b *testing.B, cacheSize string) (Artwork, model.ArtworkID, func()) {
+	b.Helper()
+	cleanup := configtest.SetupConfig()
+	b.Cleanup(cleanup)
+
+	tmpDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "artwork-bench-*")
+	if err != nil {
+		b.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Create a realistic cover image on disk
+	coverPath := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "cover.jpg")
+	coverImg := generateGradientImage(1000, 1000)
+	f, err := os.Create(coverPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		b.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := jpeg.Encode(f, coverImg, &jpeg.Options{Quality: 90}); err != nil {
+		f.Close()
+		b.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	f.Close()
+
+	// Configure cache
+	conf.Server.ImageCacheSize = cacheSize
+	conf.Server.CacheFolder = tmpDir
+	conf.Server.CoverArtQuality = 75
+	conf.Server.CoverArtPriority = "cover.*"
+
+	// Set up mock data store with album pointing to our cover.
+	// Set UpdatedAt so CoverArtID().LastUpdate is consistent across calls.
+	album := model.Album{
+		ID:        "bench-album-1",
+		Name:      "Benchmark Album",
+		FolderIDs: []string{"f1"},
+		UpdatedAt: time.Date(2025, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC),
+	}
+	folderRepo := &fakeFolderRepo{
+		result: []model.Folder{{
+			Path:       tmpDir,
+			ImageFiles: []string{"cover.jpg"},
+		}},
+	}
+	ds := &tests.MockDataStore{
+		MockedTranscoding: &tests.MockTranscodingRepo{},
+		MockedFolder:      folderRepo,
+	}
+	ds.Album(context.Background()).(*tests.MockAlbumRepo).SetData(model.Albums{album})
+
+	artID := album.CoverArtID()
+
+	imgCache := cache.NewFileCache("BenchImage", cacheSize, "bench-images", 0,
+		func(ctx context.Context, arg cache.Item) (io.Reader, error) {
+			r, _, err := arg.(artworkReader).Reader(ctx)
+			return r, err
+		})
+
+	// Wait for cache init if enabled
+	if cacheSize != "0" {
+		for !imgCache.Available(context.Background()) && !imgCache.Disabled(context.Background()) {
+			runtime.Gosched() // Yield to allow background init goroutine to run
+		}
+	}
+
+	ffmpeg := tests.NewMockFFmpeg("fallback content")
+	aw := NewArtwork(ds, imgCache, ffmpeg, nil)
+
+	cleanupAll := func() {
+		os.RemoveAll(tmpDir)
+	}
+	return aw, artID, cleanupAll
+}
+
+func BenchmarkArtworkGetE2E(b *testing.B) {
+	cacheConfigs := []struct {
+		name      string
+		cacheSize string
+	}{
+		{"no_cache", "0"},
+		{"with_cache", "100MB"},
+	}
+	sizes := []int{0, 300}
+
+	for _, cc := range cacheConfigs {
+		for _, size := range sizes {
+			b.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%s/size_%d", cc.name, size), func(b *testing.B) {
+				aw, artID, cleanup := setupE2EBenchmark(b, cc.cacheSize)
+				defer cleanup()
+
+				// Warm the cache on first call if cache is enabled
+				if cc.cacheSize != "0" {
+					r, _, err := aw.Get(context.Background(), artID, size, size > 0)
+					if err != nil {
+						b.Fatal(err)
+					}
+					_, _ = io.ReadAll(r)
+					r.Close()
+				}
+
+				b.ResetTimer()
+				for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+					r, _, err := aw.Get(context.Background(), artID, size, size > 0)
+					if err != nil {
+						b.Fatal(err)
+					}
+					_, _ = io.ReadAll(r)
+					r.Close()
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func BenchmarkArtworkGetE2EConcurrent(b *testing.B) {
+	cacheConfigs := []struct {
+		name      string
+		cacheSize string
+	}{
+		{"no_cache", "0"},
+		{"with_cache", "100MB"},
+	}
+	concurrencyLevels := []int{10, 50}
+
+	for _, cc := range cacheConfigs {
+		for _, n := range concurrencyLevels {
+			b.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%s/goroutines_%d", cc.name, n), func(b *testing.B) {
+				aw, artID, cleanup := setupE2EBenchmark(b, cc.cacheSize)
+				defer cleanup()
+
+				// Warm cache
+				if cc.cacheSize != "0" {
+					r, _, _ := aw.Get(context.Background(), artID, 300, true)
+					if r != nil {
+						_, _ = io.ReadAll(r)
+						r.Close()
+					}
+				}
+
+				b.ResetTimer()
+				for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+					var wg sync.WaitGroup
+					wg.Add(n)
+					for g := 0; g < n; g++ {
+						go func() {
+							defer wg.Done()
+							r, _, err := aw.Get(context.Background(), artID, 300, true)
+							if err != nil {
+								b.Error(err)
+								return
+							}
+							_, _ = io.ReadAll(r)
+							r.Close()
+						}()
+					}
+					wg.Wait()
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}
--- a/core/artwork/benchmark_encode_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/benchmark_encode_test.go
@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package artwork
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"image/jpeg"
+	"image/png"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func BenchmarkImageEncode(b *testing.B) {
+	img := generateGradientImage(300, 300)
+
+	jpegQualities := []int{60, 75, 90}
+	for _, q := range jpegQualities {
+		b.Run(fmt.Sprintf("jpeg/q%d/300x300", q), func(b *testing.B) {
+			var buf bytes.Buffer
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+				buf.Reset()
+				if err := jpeg.Encode(&buf, img, &jpeg.Options{Quality: q}); err != nil {
+					b.Fatal(err)
+				}
+			}
+			b.ReportMetric(float64(buf.Len()), "bytes")
+		})
+	}
+
+	b.Run("png/300x300", func(b *testing.B) {
+		var buf bytes.Buffer
+		b.ResetTimer()
+		for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+			buf.Reset()
+			if err := png.Encode(&buf, img); err != nil {
+				b.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}
+		b.ReportMetric(float64(buf.Len()), "bytes")
+	})
+}
--- a/core/artwork/benchmark_helpers_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/benchmark_helpers_test.go
@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package artwork
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"image"
+	"image/color"
+	"image/jpeg"
+	"image/png"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// generateJPEG creates a JPEG image of the given dimensions with a gradient pattern.
+// The gradient ensures the image has realistic entropy (not trivially compressible).
+func generateJPEG(t testing.TB, width, height, quality int) []byte {
+	t.Helper()
+	img := generateGradientImage(width, height)
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	if err := jpeg.Encode(&buf, img, &jpeg.Options{Quality: quality}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return buf.Bytes()
+}
+
+// generatePNG creates a PNG image of the given dimensions with a gradient pattern.
+func generatePNG(t testing.TB, width, height int) []byte {
+	t.Helper()
+	img := generateGradientImage(width, height)
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	if err := png.Encode(&buf, img); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return buf.Bytes()
+}
+
+// generateGradientImage creates an RGBA image with a diagonal gradient pattern.
+func generateGradientImage(width, height int) *image.RGBA {
+	img := image.NewRGBA(image.Rect(0, 0, width, height))
+	for y := 0; y < height; y++ {
+		for x := 0; x < width; x++ {
+			r := uint8((x * 255) / width)
+			g := uint8((y * 255) / height)
+			b := uint8(((x + y) * 255) / (width + height))
+			img.Set(x, y, color.RGBA{R: r, G: g, B: b, A: 255})
+		}
+	}
+	return img
+}
--- a/core/artwork/benchmark_pipeline_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/benchmark_pipeline_test.go
@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package artwork
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf/configtest"
+)
+
+func BenchmarkResizeFullPipeline(b *testing.B) {
+	cleanup := configtest.SetupConfig()
+	b.Cleanup(cleanup)
+	conf.Server.CoverArtQuality = 75
+
+	sourceSizes := []int{1000, 3000}
+	targetSize := 300
+
+	for _, srcSize := range sourceSizes {
+		jpegData := generateJPEG(b, srcSize, srcSize, 90)
+
+		b.Run(fmt.Sprintf("jpeg/%dx%d_to_%d", srcSize, srcSize, targetSize), func(b *testing.B) {
+			b.SetBytes(int64(len(jpegData)))
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+				result, _, err := resizeImage(bytes.NewReader(jpegData), targetSize, false)
+				if err != nil {
+					b.Fatal(err)
+				}
+				if result == nil {
+					b.Fatal("expected non-nil resized image")
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		b.Run(fmt.Sprintf("jpeg/%dx%d_to_%d_square", srcSize, srcSize, targetSize), func(b *testing.B) {
+			b.SetBytes(int64(len(jpegData)))
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+				result, _, err := resizeImage(bytes.NewReader(jpegData), targetSize, true)
+				if err != nil {
+					b.Fatal(err)
+				}
+				if result == nil {
+					b.Fatal("expected non-nil resized image")
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
--- a/core/artwork/benchmark_tag_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/benchmark_tag_test.go
@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package artwork
+
+import (
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"testing"
+
+	"go.senan.xyz/taglib"
+)
+
+func BenchmarkTagExtraction(b *testing.B) {
+	// Ensure working directory is the project root (tests.Init not called with -run='^$')
+	_, file, _, ok := runtime.Caller(0)
+	if !ok {
+		b.Fatal("runtime.Caller failed")
+	}
+	appPath, _ := filepath.Abs(filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(file), "..", ".."))
+
+	// Use existing test fixture with embedded artwork
+	testFile := filepath.Join(appPath, "tests/fixtures/artist/an-album/test.mp3")
+
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		f, err := taglib.OpenReadOnly(testFile, taglib.WithReadStyle(taglib.ReadStyleFast))
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		images := f.Properties().Images
+		if len(images) == 0 {
+			b.Fatal("no images found in test file")
+		}
+		data, err := f.Image(0)
+		if err != nil || len(data) == 0 {
+			b.Fatal("failed to extract image data")
+		}
+		f.Close()
+	}
+}
--- a/core/artwork/cache_warmer.go
+++ b/core/artwork/cache_warmer.go
@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func (a *cacheWarmer) waitSignal(ctx context.Context, timeout time.Duration) {
 func (a *cacheWarmer) processBatch(ctx context.Context, batch []model.ArtworkID) {
 	log.Trace(ctx, "PreCaching a new batch of artwork", "batchSize", len(batch))
 	input := pl.FromSlice(ctx, batch)
-	errs := pl.Sink(ctx, 2, input, a.doCacheImage)
+	errs := pl.Sink(ctx, 4, input, a.doCacheImage)
 	for err := range errs {
 		log.Debug(ctx, "Error warming cache", err)
 	}
--- a/core/artwork/reader_playlist.go
+++ b/core/artwork/reader_playlist.go
@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"

-	"github.com/disintegration/imaging"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/log"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/utils/slice"
+	xdraw "golang.org/x/image/draw"
 )

 type playlistArtworkReader struct {
@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ func (a *playlistArtworkReader) createTile(_ context.Context, r io.ReadCloser) (
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return imaging.Fill(img, tileSize/2, tileSize/2, imaging.Center, imaging.Lanczos), nil
+	return fillCenter(img, tileSize/2, tileSize/2), nil
 }

 func (a *playlistArtworkReader) createTiledImage(_ context.Context, tiles []image.Image) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
@ -238,3 +238,32 @@ func rect(pos int) image.Rectangle {
 	r.Max.Y = r.Min.Y + tileSize/2
 	return r
 }
+
+// fillCenter crops the source image from the center and scales it to fill dstW x dstH exactly,
+// equivalent to imaging.Fill with Center anchor.
+func fillCenter(src image.Image, dstW, dstH int) image.Image {
+	srcBounds := src.Bounds()
+	srcW := srcBounds.Dx()
+	srcH := srcBounds.Dy()
+
+	// Calculate crop rectangle (center crop to match destination aspect ratio)
+	srcAspect := float64(srcW) / float64(srcH)
+	dstAspect := float64(dstW) / float64(dstH)
+
+	var cropRect image.Rectangle
+	if srcAspect > dstAspect {
+		// Source is wider — crop horizontally
+		cropW := int(float64(srcH) * dstAspect)
+		cropX := (srcW - cropW) / 2
+		cropRect = image.Rect(srcBounds.Min.X+cropX, srcBounds.Min.Y, srcBounds.Min.X+cropX+cropW, srcBounds.Max.Y)
+	} else {
+		// Source is taller — crop vertically
+		cropH := int(float64(srcW) / dstAspect)
+		cropY := (srcH - cropH) / 2
+		cropRect = image.Rect(srcBounds.Min.X, srcBounds.Min.Y+cropY, srcBounds.Max.X, srcBounds.Min.Y+cropY+cropH)
+	}
+
+	dst := image.NewNRGBA(image.Rect(0, 0, dstW, dstH))
+	xdraw.BiLinear.Scale(dst, dst.Bounds(), src, cropRect, draw.Src, nil)
+	return dst
+}
--- a/core/artwork/reader_resized.go
+++ b/core/artwork/reader_resized.go
@ -5,17 +5,26 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"image"
+	"image/draw"
 	"image/jpeg"
 	"image/png"
 	"io"
+	"sync"
 	"time"

-	"github.com/disintegration/imaging"
+	"github.com/gen2brain/webp"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/log"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
+	xdraw "golang.org/x/image/draw"
 )

+var bufPool = sync.Pool{
+	New: func() any {
+		return new(bytes.Buffer)
+	},
+}
+
 type resizedArtworkReader struct {
 	artID      model.ArtworkID
 	cacheKey   string
@ -46,7 +55,7 @@ func (a *resizedArtworkReader) Key() string {
 	if a.square {
 		return baseKey + ".square"
 	}
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s.%d", baseKey, conf.Server.CoverJpegQuality)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s.%d", baseKey, conf.Server.CoverArtQuality)
 }

 func (a *resizedArtworkReader) LastUpdated() time.Time {
@ -79,7 +88,7 @@ func (a *resizedArtworkReader) Reader(ctx context.Context) (io.ReadCloser, strin
 }

 func resizeImage(reader io.Reader, size int, square bool) (io.Reader, int, error) {
-	original, format, err := image.Decode(reader)
+	original, _, err := image.Decode(reader)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, 0, err
 	}
@ -96,26 +105,45 @@ func resizeImage(reader io.Reader, size int, square bool) (io.Reader, int, error
 		return nil, originalSize, nil
 	}

-	var resized image.Image
-	if originalSize >= size {
-		resized = imaging.Fit(original, size, size, imaging.Lanczos)
-	} else {
-		if bounds.Max.Y < bounds.Max.X {
-			resized = imaging.Resize(original, size, 0, imaging.Lanczos)
-		} else {
-			resized = imaging.Resize(original, 0, size, imaging.Lanczos)
-		}
-	}
-	if square {
-		bg := image.NewRGBA(image.Rect(0, 0, size, size))
-		resized = imaging.OverlayCenter(bg, resized, 1)
-	}
+	// Calculate aspect-fit dimensions
+	srcW, srcH := bounds.Dx(), bounds.Dy()
+	scale := float64(size) / float64(max(srcW, srcH))
+	dstW := int(float64(srcW) * scale)
+	dstH := int(float64(srcH) * scale)

-	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
-	if format == "png" || square {
-		err = png.Encode(buf, resized)
+	var dst *image.NRGBA
+	var dstRect image.Rectangle
+	if square {
+		// Square canvas with image centered (transparent padding via zero-initialized NRGBA)
+		dst = image.NewNRGBA(image.Rect(0, 0, size, size))
+		offsetX := (size - dstW) / 2
+		offsetY := (size - dstH) / 2
+		dstRect = image.Rect(offsetX, offsetY, offsetX+dstW, offsetY+dstH)
 	} else {
-		err = jpeg.Encode(buf, resized, &jpeg.Options{Quality: conf.Server.CoverJpegQuality})
+		// Tight-fit canvas
+		dst = image.NewNRGBA(image.Rect(0, 0, dstW, dstH))
+		dstRect = dst.Bounds()
 	}
-	return buf, originalSize, err
+	xdraw.BiLinear.Scale(dst, dstRect, original, bounds, draw.Src, nil)
+
+	buf := bufPool.Get().(*bytes.Buffer)
+	buf.Reset()
+	if conf.Server.DevJpegCoverArt {
+		if square {
+			err = png.Encode(buf, dst)
+		} else {
+			err = jpeg.Encode(buf, dst, &jpeg.Options{Quality: conf.Server.CoverArtQuality})
+		}
+	} else {
+		err = webp.Encode(buf, dst, webp.Options{Quality: conf.Server.CoverArtQuality})
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		bufPool.Put(buf)
+		return nil, originalSize, err
+	}
+	// Copy bytes before returning buffer to pool (pool may reuse the buffer)
+	encoded := make([]byte, buf.Len())
+	copy(encoded, buf.Bytes())
+	bufPool.Put(buf)
+	return bytes.NewReader(encoded), originalSize, nil
 }
--- a/core/external/provider.go
+++ b/core/external/provider.go
@ -374,13 +374,19 @@ func (e *provider) ArtistImage(ctx context.Context, id string) (*url.URL, error)
 		return nil, err
 	}

-	e.callGetImage(ctx, e.ag, &artist)
-	if utils.IsCtxDone(ctx) {
-		log.Warn(ctx, "ArtistImage call canceled", ctx.Err())
-		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	// Use already-stored image URL if available, avoiding expensive external API calls.
+	// If the info is expired, the background refresh (via UpdateArtistInfo/artistQueue) will update it.
+	imageUrl := artist.ArtistImageUrl()
+	if imageUrl == "" {
+		// No cached URL — must fetch from external source synchronously
+		e.callGetImage(ctx, e.ag, &artist)
+		if utils.IsCtxDone(ctx) {
+			log.Warn(ctx, "ArtistImage call canceled", ctx.Err())
+			return nil, ctx.Err()
+		}
+		imageUrl = artist.ArtistImageUrl()
 	}

-	imageUrl := artist.ArtistImageUrl()
 	if imageUrl == "" {
 		return nil, model.ErrNotFound
 	}