Systems, methods, and devices for dynamic resolution of content references for streaming media are described. In one innovative aspect, a device for obtaining a media stream is provided. The device includes a receiver configured to receive a location independent persistent identifier for the media stream. The device includes a resolution circuit configured to identify a location of the media stream based at least in part on the location independent persistent identifier. The device includes a media acquisition circuit configured to obtain the media stream based at least in part on the identified location. In some implementations, the resolution circuit is configured to identify a rewrite rule for the media stream and generate a rewritten identifier based on the identified rewrite rule and at least one of the location independent persistent identifier or the identified location.