diff --git a/nowplaying/db.py b/nowplaying/db.py
index 123ecf20..151dbb38 100755
--- a/nowplaying/db.py
+++ b/nowplaying/db.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 import time
 import traceback
 
+import aiosqlite
+
 from watchdog.observers import Observer  # pylint: disable=import-error
 from watchdog.events import PatternMatchingEventHandler  # pylint: disable=import-error
 
@@ -143,7 +145,7 @@ def watcher(self):
         ''' get access to a watch on the database file '''
         return DBWatcher(self.databasefile)
 
-    def write_to_metadb(self, metadata=None):
+    async def write_to_metadb(self, metadata=None):
         ''' update metadb '''
 
         def filterkeys(mydict):
@@ -161,7 +163,8 @@ def filterkeys(mydict):
         if not self.databasefile.exists():
             self.setupsql()
 
-        with sqlite3.connect(self.databasefile, timeout=10) as connection:
+        async with aiosqlite.connect(self.databasefile,
+                                     timeout=10) as connection:
             # do not want to modify the original dictionary
             # otherwise Bad Things(tm) will happen
             mdcopy = copy.deepcopy(metadata)
@@ -170,7 +173,7 @@ def filterkeys(mydict):
             # toss any keys we do not care about
             mdcopy = filterkeys(mdcopy)
 
-            cursor = connection.cursor()
+            cursor = await connection.cursor()
 
             logging.debug('Adding record with %s/%s', mdcopy['artist'],
                           mdcopy['title'])
@@ -190,7 +193,8 @@ def filterkeys(mydict):
             sql += '?,' * (len(mdcopy.keys()) - 1) + '?)'
 
             datatuple = tuple(list(mdcopy.values()))
-            cursor.execute(sql, datatuple)
+            await cursor.execute(sql, datatuple)
+            await connection.commit()
 
     def make_previoustracklist(self):
         ''' create a reversed list of the tracks played '''
@@ -220,28 +224,38 @@ def make_previoustracklist(self):
 
         return previouslist
 
-    def read_last_meta(self):
-        ''' update metadb '''
+    async def make_previoustracklist_async(self):
+        ''' create a reversed list of the tracks played '''
 
         if not self.databasefile.exists():
             logging.error('MetadataDB does not exist yet?')
             return None
 
-        with sqlite3.connect(self.databasefile, timeout=10) as connection:
+        async with aiosqlite.connect(self.databasefile,
+                                     timeout=10) as connection:
             connection.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
-            cursor = connection.cursor()
+            cursor = await connection.cursor()
             try:
-                cursor.execute(
-                    '''SELECT * FROM currentmeta ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1''')
+                await cursor.execute(
+                    '''SELECT artist, title FROM currentmeta ORDER BY id DESC'''
+                )
             except sqlite3.OperationalError:
-                for line in traceback.format_exc().splitlines():
-                    logging.error(line)
                 return None
 
-            row = cursor.fetchone()
-            if not row:
-                return None
+            records = await cursor.fetchall()
 
+        previouslist = []
+        if records:
+            previouslist.extend({
+                'artist': row['artist'],
+                'title': row['title']
+            } for row in records)
+
+        return previouslist
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _postprocess_read_last_meta(row):
+        ''' common post-process of read_last_meta '''
         metadata = {data: row[data] for data in METADATALIST}
         for key in METADATABLOBLIST:
             metadata[key] = row[key]
@@ -254,6 +268,59 @@ def read_last_meta(self):
                 metadata[key] = metadata[key].split(SPLITSTR)
 
         metadata['dbid'] = row['id']
+        return metadata
+
+    async def read_last_meta_async(self):
+        ''' update metadb '''
+
+        if not self.databasefile.exists():
+            logging.error('MetadataDB does not exist yet?')
+            return None
+
+        async with aiosqlite.connect(self.databasefile,
+                                     timeout=10) as connection:
+            connection.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
+            cursor = await connection.cursor()
+            try:
+                await cursor.execute(
+                    '''SELECT * FROM currentmeta ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1''')
+            except sqlite3.OperationalError:
+                for line in traceback.format_exc().splitlines():
+                    logging.error(line)
+                return None
+
+            row = await cursor.fetchone()
+            await cursor.close()
+            if not row:
+                return None
+
+        metadata = self._postprocess_read_last_meta(row)
+        metadata['previoustrack'] = await self.make_previoustracklist_async()
+        return metadata
+
+    def read_last_meta(self):
+        ''' update metadb '''
+
+        if not self.databasefile.exists():
+            logging.error('MetadataDB does not exist yet?')
+            return None
+
+        with sqlite3.connect(self.databasefile, timeout=10) as connection:
+            connection.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
+            cursor = connection.cursor()
+            try:
+                cursor.execute(
+                    '''SELECT * FROM currentmeta ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1''')
+            except sqlite3.OperationalError:
+                for line in traceback.format_exc().splitlines():
+                    logging.error(line)
+                return None
+
+            row = cursor.fetchone()
+            if not row:
+                return None
+
+        metadata = self._postprocess_read_last_meta(row)
         metadata['previoustrack'] = self.make_previoustracklist()
         return metadata
 
diff --git a/nowplaying/processes/discordbot.py b/nowplaying/processes/discordbot.py
index 4817ee9c..b8ccc366 100644
--- a/nowplaying/processes/discordbot.py
+++ b/nowplaying/processes/discordbot.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ async def start(self):
                 if not template:
                     continue
 
-                metadata = metadb.read_last_meta()
+                metadata = await metadb.read_last_meta_async()
                 if not metadata:
                     continue
 
diff --git a/nowplaying/processes/trackpoll.py b/nowplaying/processes/trackpoll.py
index 97d9083b..29a9a300 100755
--- a/nowplaying/processes/trackpoll.py
+++ b/nowplaying/processes/trackpoll.py
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ async def gettrack(self):  # pylint: disable=too-many-branches,
 
         if not self.testmode:
             metadb = nowplaying.db.MetadataDB()
-            metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=self.currentmeta)
+            await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=self.currentmeta)
         self._write_to_text()
 
     def _artfallbacks(self):
diff --git a/nowplaying/processes/webserver.py b/nowplaying/processes/webserver.py
index 297a3cbe..2c0e686c 100755
--- a/nowplaying/processes/webserver.py
+++ b/nowplaying/processes/webserver.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ async def _htm_handler(request, template, metadata=None):  # pylint: disable=unu
         htmloutput = INDEXREFRESH
         try:
             if not metadata:
-                metadata = request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta()
+                metadata = await request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta_async()
             if not metadata:
                 metadata = nowplaying.hostmeta.gethostmeta()
                 metadata['httpport'] = request.app['config'].cparser.value(
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ async def _metacheck_htm_handler(self, request, template):  # pylint: disable=un
         source = os.path.basename(template)
         htmloutput = ""
         request.app['config'].get()
-        metadata = request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta()
+        metadata = await request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta_async()
         lastid = await self.getlastid(request, source)
         once = request.app['config'].cparser.value('weboutput/once', type=bool)
         #once = False
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ async def getlastid(request, source):
     @staticmethod
     async def indextxt_handler(request):
         ''' handle static index.txt '''
-        metadata = request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta()
+        metadata = await request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta_async()
         txtoutput = ""
         if metadata:
             request.app['config'].get()
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ async def _image_handler(imgtype, request):
         # this makes the client code significantly easier
         image = nowplaying.utils.TRANSPARENT_PNG_BIN
         try:
-            metadata = request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta()
+            metadata = await request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta_async()
             if metadata and metadata.get(imgtype):
                 image = metadata[imgtype]
         except:  #pylint: disable=bare-except
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ async def artistthumb_handler(self, request):
     async def api_v1_last_handler(self, request):
         ''' v1/last just returns the metadata'''
         data = {}
-        if metadata := request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta():
+        if metadata := await request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta_async():
             try:
                 del metadata['dbid']
                 data = self._base64ifier(metadata)
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ async def websocket_artistfanart_streamer(self, request):
         try:
             while not self.stopevent.is_set(
             ) and not endloop and not websocket.closed:
-                metadata = request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta()
+                metadata = await request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta_async()
                 if not metadata or not metadata.get('artist'):
                     await asyncio.sleep(5)
                     continue
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ async def websocket_artistfanart_streamer(self, request):
 
     async def websocket_lastjson_handler(self, request, websocket):
         ''' handle singular websocket request '''
-        metadata = request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta()
+        metadata = await request.app['metadb'].read_last_meta_async()
         del metadata['dbid']
         if not websocket.closed:
             await websocket.send_json(self._base64ifier(metadata))
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ async def _wss_do_update(self, websocket, database):
         while not metadata and not websocket.closed:
             if self.stopevent.is_set():
                 return time.time()
-            metadata = database.read_last_meta()
+            metadata = await database.read_last_meta_async()
             await asyncio.sleep(1)
         del metadata['dbid']
         if not websocket.closed:
diff --git a/nowplaying/trackrequests.py b/nowplaying/trackrequests.py
index 56222207..08b41075 100644
--- a/nowplaying/trackrequests.py
+++ b/nowplaying/trackrequests.py
@@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ async def twofer_request(self, setting, user, user_input):
         ''' twofer request '''
 
         metadb = nowplaying.db.MetadataDB()
-        metadata = metadb.read_last_meta()
+        metadata = await metadb.read_last_meta_async()
         if not metadata:
             logging.debug('Twofer: No currently playing track? skipping')
             return {}
diff --git a/nowplaying/twitch/chat.py b/nowplaying/twitch/chat.py
index 8bb209dc..5a6760fc 100644
--- a/nowplaying/twitch/chat.py
+++ b/nowplaying/twitch/chat.py
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ async def _async_announce_track(self):
                               anntemplate)
                 return
 
-            metadata = self.metadb.read_last_meta()
+            metadata = await self.metadb.read_last_meta_async()
 
             if not metadata:
                 logging.debug('No metadata to announce')
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ async def _post_template(self, msg=None, template=None, moremetadata=None):  #py
         ''' take a template, fill it in, and post it '''
         if not template:
             return
-        metadata = self.metadb.read_last_meta()
+        metadata = await self.metadb.read_last_meta_async()
         if not metadata:
             metadata = {}
         if 'coverimageraw' in metadata:
diff --git a/tests/test_db.py b/tests/test_db.py
index 6dafdffe..854f9886 100755
--- a/tests/test_db.py
+++ b/tests/test_db.py
@@ -41,21 +41,38 @@ def results(expected, metadata):
     assert metadata == {}
 
 
-def test_empty_db(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_empty_db(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     ''' test writing false data '''
     metadb = getmetadb
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=None)
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=None)
     readdata = metadb.read_last_meta()
 
     assert readdata is None
 
     metadata = {'filename': 'tests/audio/15_Ghosts_II_64kb_orig.mp3'}
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=metadata)
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=metadata)
     readdata = metadb.read_last_meta()
     assert readdata is None
 
 
-def test_data_db1(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_empty_db_async(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+    ''' test writing false data '''
+    metadb = getmetadb
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=None)
+    readdata = await metadb.read_last_meta_async()
+
+    assert readdata is None
+
+    metadata = {'filename': 'tests/audio/15_Ghosts_II_64kb_orig.mp3'}
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=metadata)
+    readdata = await metadb.read_last_meta_async()
+    assert readdata is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_data_db1(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     ''' simple data test '''
     metadb = getmetadb
 
@@ -105,14 +122,15 @@ def test_data_db1(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
         'track_total': None,
     }
 
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
     readdata = metadb.read_last_meta()
 
     expected['dbid'] = 1
     results(expected, readdata)
 
 
-def test_data_db2(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_data_db2(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     ''' more complex data test '''
     metadb = getmetadb
 
@@ -133,7 +151,7 @@ def test_data_db2(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
         'title': 'Lakini\'s Juice',
     }
 
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
     readdata = metadb.read_last_meta()
 
     expected = {
@@ -190,7 +208,8 @@ def test_data_db2(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     results(expected, readdata)
 
 
-def test_data_dbid(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_data_dbid(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     ''' make sure dbid increments '''
     metadb = getmetadb
 
@@ -199,7 +218,7 @@ def test_data_dbid(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
         'title': '15 Ghosts II',
     }
 
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
     readdata = metadb.read_last_meta()
 
     expected = {
@@ -207,18 +226,19 @@ def test_data_dbid(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
         'title': 'Great Title Here',
     }
 
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
     readdata = metadb.read_last_meta()
 
     assert readdata['dbid'] == 2
 
 
-def test_data_previoustrack(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_data_previoustrack(getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     ''' test the previoustrack functionality '''
     metadb = getmetadb
 
     for counter in range(4):
-        metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata={
+        await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata={
             'artist': f'a{counter}',
             'title': f't{counter}'
         })
@@ -240,7 +260,8 @@ def test_empty_setlist(bootstrap):
     nowplaying.db.create_setlist(config)
 
 
-def test_simple_setlist(config_and_getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_simple_setlist(config_and_getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     ''' test a single entry db '''
     config, metadb = config_and_getmetadb
     config.cparser.setValue('setlist/enabled', True)
@@ -250,11 +271,12 @@ def test_simple_setlist(config_and_getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-oute
         'title': 'Great Title Here',
     }
 
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
     nowplaying.db.create_setlist(config, databasefile=metadb.databasefile)
 
 
-def test_missingartist_setlist(config_and_getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_missingartist_setlist(config_and_getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     ''' test a single entry db '''
     config, metadb = config_and_getmetadb
     config.cparser.setValue('setlist/enabled', True)
@@ -264,5 +286,5 @@ def test_missingartist_setlist(config_and_getmetadb):  # pylint: disable=redefin
         'title': 'Great Title Here',
     }
 
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata=expected)
     nowplaying.db.create_setlist(config, databasefile=metadb.databasefile)
diff --git a/tests/test_trackrequests.py b/tests/test_trackrequests.py
index b4fde8b9..c8a58c48 100644
--- a/tests/test_trackrequests.py
+++ b/tests/test_trackrequests.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 import asyncio
 import logging
 import pathlib
-import threading
 
 import pytest  # pylint: disable=import-error
 import pytest_asyncio  # pylint: disable=import-error
@@ -16,7 +15,7 @@
 @pytest_asyncio.fixture
 async def trackrequestbootstrap(bootstrap, getroot):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     ''' bootstrap a configuration '''
-    stopevent = threading.Event()
+    stopevent = asyncio.Event()
     config = bootstrap
     config.cparser.setValue('settings/input', 'jsonreader')
     playlistpath = pathlib.Path(getroot).joinpath('tests', 'playlists', 'json',
@@ -311,7 +310,7 @@ async def test_trackrequest_getrequest_title(trackrequestbootstrap):  # pylint:
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_twofer(bootstrap, getroot):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     ''' test twofers '''
-    stopevent = threading.Event()
+    stopevent = asyncio.Event()
     config = bootstrap
     config.cparser.setValue('settings/input', 'json')
     playlistpath = pathlib.Path(getroot).joinpath('tests', 'playlists', 'json',
@@ -336,7 +335,7 @@ async def test_twofer(bootstrap, getroot):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-na
     assert not data
 
     testdata = {'artist': 'myartist', 'title': 'mytitle1'}
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(testdata)
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(testdata)
 
     data = await trackrequest.twofer_request({
         'displayname': 'test',
diff --git a/tests/test_webserver.py b/tests/test_webserver.py
index 33c843f4..507706a9 100644
--- a/tests/test_webserver.py
+++ b/tests/test_webserver.py
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ def test_startstopwebserver(getwebserver):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-na
     time.sleep(5)
 
 
-def test_webserver_htmtest(getwebserver):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_webserver_htmtest(getwebserver):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     ''' start webserver, read existing data, add new data, then read that '''
     config, metadb = getwebserver
     config.cparser.setValue(
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ def test_webserver_htmtest(getwebserver):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-nam
 
     # handle first write
 
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata={
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata={
         'title': 'testhtmtitle',
         'artist': 'testhtmartist'
     })
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ def test_webserver_htmtest(getwebserver):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-nam
 
     # handle second write
 
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata={
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata={
         'artist': 'artisthtm2',
         'title': 'titlehtm2',
     })
@@ -105,7 +106,8 @@ def test_webserver_htmtest(getwebserver):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-nam
     assert req.text == ' artisthtm2 - titlehtm2'
 
 
-def test_webserver_txttest(getwebserver):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_webserver_txttest(getwebserver):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
     ''' start webserver, read existing data, add new data, then read that '''
     config, metadb = getwebserver
     config.cparser.setValue('weboutput/httpenabled', 'true')
@@ -123,7 +125,7 @@ def test_webserver_txttest(getwebserver):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-nam
 
     req = requests.get('http://localhost:8899/index.txt', timeout=5)
     assert req.status_code == 200
-    assert req.text == ''
+    assert req.text == ''  # sourcery skip: simplify-empty-collection-comparison
 
     # should return empty
     req = requests.get('http://localhost:8899/v1/last', timeout=5)
@@ -131,7 +133,7 @@ def test_webserver_txttest(getwebserver):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-nam
     assert req.json() == {}
     # handle first write
 
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata={
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata={
         'title': 'testtxttitle',
         'artist': 'testtxtartist'
     })
@@ -163,7 +165,7 @@ def test_webserver_txttest(getwebserver):  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-nam
 
     # handle second write
 
-    metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata={
+    await metadb.write_to_metadb(metadata={
         'artist': 'artisttxt2',
         'title': 'titletxt2',
     })