A streaming media cache comprises a mass storage device configured to store streaming media data, a cache memory coupled to the mass storage device, the cache memory configured to store a subset of the streaming media data in a plurality of locations, and configured to provide the subset of the streaming media data to the processor, and a processor coupled to the mass storage device and to the cache memory, the processor configured to use a first retirement algorithm to determine a first location within the cache memory that is to be retired, configured to copy data from the mass storage device to the first location within the cache memory, configured to monitor a cache memory age, wherein the cache memory age is determined in response to an age of data in at least a second location within the cache memory, configured to use a second retirement algorithm to determine a third location within the cache memory that is to be retired when the cache memory age falls below a threshold age, and configured to copy data from the mass storage device to the third location within the cache memory.