diff --git a/beets/mediafile.py b/beets/mediafile.py
index 4fde82ae0..9be8f2485 100644
--- a/beets/mediafile.py
+++ b/beets/mediafile.py
@@ -950,9 +950,6 @@ class MediaFile(object):
             # Reasonably sure from checking mutagen source that all
             # formats will return this information
             return self.mgfile.info.sample_rate
-        else:
-            # Return and empty string, _if_ this ever happens
-            return ''
     
     @property
     def bitdepth(self):
@@ -961,6 +958,13 @@ class MediaFile(object):
             # formats will return this information
             return self.mgfile.info.bits_per_sample        
 
+    @property
+    def channels(self):
+        if hasattr(self.mgfile.info, 'channels'):
+            # Reasonably sure from checking mutagen source that all
+            # formats will return this information
+            return self.mgfile.info.channels
+
    @property
     def bitrate(self):
         if hasattr(self.mgfile.info, 'bitrate'):