diff --git a/beets/config_default.yaml b/beets/config_default.yaml
index c0bab8056e..b0b495a225 100644
--- a/beets/config_default.yaml
+++ b/beets/config_default.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ statefile: state.pickle
 # --------------- Plugins ---------------
 
 plugins: [musicbrainz]
-
 pluginpath: []
 
 # --------------- Import ---------------
diff --git a/beets/library/models.py b/beets/library/models.py
index cbee2a411e..69daeade30 100644
--- a/beets/library/models.py
+++ b/beets/library/models.py
@@ -265,6 +265,7 @@ class Album(LibModel):
         "language": types.STRING,
         "country": types.STRING,
         "albumstatus": types.STRING,
+        "media": types.STRING,
         "albumdisambig": types.STRING,
         "releasegroupdisambig": types.STRING,
         "rg_album_gain": types.NULL_FLOAT,
@@ -320,6 +321,7 @@ def _types(cls) -> dict[str, types.Type]:
         "language",
         "country",
         "albumstatus",
+        "media",
         "albumdisambig",
         "releasegroupdisambig",
         "release_group_title",
@@ -354,6 +356,18 @@ def art_filepath(self) -> Path | None:
         """The path to album's cover picture as pathlib.Path."""
         return Path(os.fsdecode(self.artpath)) if self.artpath else None
 
+    @property
+    def media(self):
+        """Return a list of distinct media types for the items in this album."""
+        if not self.items():
+            return []
+        media_set = {
+            str(item.media)
+            for item in self.items()
+            if getattr(item, "media", None)
+        }
+        return list(media_set)
+
     @classmethod
     def _getters(cls):
         # In addition to plugin-provided computed fields, also expose
@@ -361,6 +375,7 @@ def _getters(cls):
         getters = plugins.album_field_getters()
         getters["path"] = Album.item_dir
         getters["albumtotal"] = Album._albumtotal
+        getters["media_types"] = lambda a: a.media_types
         return getters
 
     def items(self):
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index d95de38c52..8f2d108d24 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ New features:
 - :doc:`plugins/mbpseudo`: Add a new `mbpseudo` plugin to proactively receive
       MusicBrainz pseudo-releases as recommendations during import.
 - Added support for Python 3.13.
+- Added album-level `$media` field derived from items’ media metadata.
 
 Bug fixes:
 
diff --git a/test/test_media_field.py b/test/test_media_field.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e2410c6adb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_media_field.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import unittest
+
+from beets.library import Item, Library
+
+
+class MediaFieldTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.lib = Library(":memory:")
+        self.lib.add_album = self.lib.add_album
+
+    def add_album_with_items(self, items_data):
+        items = []
+        for data in items_data:
+            item = Item(**data)
+            items.append(item)
+        album = self.lib.add_album(items)
+        return album
+
+    def test_album_media_field_multiple_types(self):
+        items_data = [
+            {"title": "Track 1", "artist": "Artist A", "media": "CD"},
+            {"title": "Track 2", "artist": "Artist A", "media": "Vinyl"},
+        ]
+        album = self.add_album_with_items(items_data)
+        media = album.media
+        assert sorted(media) == ["CD", "Vinyl"]
+
+    def test_album_media_field_single_type(self):
+        items_data = [
+            {"title": "Track 1", "artist": "Artist A", "media": "CD"},
+            {"title": "Track 2", "artist": "Artist A", "media": "CD"},
+        ]
+        album = self.add_album_with_items(items_data)
+        media = album.media
+        assert media == ["CD"]
+
+    def test_album_with_no_media(self):
+        items_data = [
+            {"title": "Track 1", "artist": "Artist A"},
+            {"title": "Track 2", "artist": "Artist A"},
+        ]
+        album = self.add_album_with_items(items_data)
+        media = album.media
+        assert media == []
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()