MP3 - true streaming metafiles notes:
The M3U file extension can be used as a player list file (metafile) to enable true streaming mp3 audio playback.

Use Notepad or similar text editor to enter text information for the mp3 audio file URL location as in this example where -
#EXTM3u introduces extended M3U file header directives.
#EXTINF introduces track information, including runtime (required) and title (optional).
IMPORTANT: Indent a space before entering #EXTINF and Enter -1 or 0 as runtime for files that will stream.
http://... is the URL that points the player to the actual audio files's location.

The following example was saved for the Michigan Writers Series as 032107i.m3u located at:
http://archive.lib.msu.edu/VVL/vincent/writers/spring07/media/032107i.m3u
This text information is entered and saved with the m3u extension (instead of txt):
#EXTM3U
 #EXTINF:0, - Michigan Writers Series
http://archive.lib.msu.edu/VVL/dbnumbers/DB15400.mp3

NOTE: When the audio file is saved in the same directory as the metafile, 
a simpler local relative path for the URL is used instead:
For the metafile located at: http://archive.lib.msu.edu/VVL/dbnumbers/m3u/DB15400.m3u
the metafile data entered is:
#EXTM3U
 #EXTINF:0, - Michigan Writers Series
../DB15400.mp3

The m3u file can be opened in any compatible player -
The file above was successfully tested with these players:
VLC Player
Windows Media Player
Apple I-Tunes
Quicktime Player - may not work properly on some versions. QT7 requires the indented text spacing for the m3u line "#EXTINF..."
NOTE: The Quicktime Player is no longer supported by Apple on Windows.

M3U files can also be opened with a text editor like Notepad in order to make changes,
for example, when the mp3 file is moved to a different location.