I recently updated from Ubuntu 19.04 to 19.10 and noticed the multimedia keys such as Play and Stop stopped working in Kodi. Whenever I press a multimedia key, it only shows a big crossed circle icon (also in desktop). I tried to enable/disable the shortcuts for the multimedia keys, but it didn't work. I also cannot create a new shortcut with the multimedia keys, because the big icon already appears when pressing the key. I'm no more sure if I had to disable or enable the shortcuts in 19.04 though.
I'm not sure, if it is related, but the Ubuntu upgrade finished not clean. It ended in console and I had to reset my PC. However everything seems to work correctly besides the multimedia keys.
Any help would be appretiated.
It is a bug/a missing issue of the new software.
It is not an issue with detecting multimedia keys but with connecting the key function with the action.
That is, the desktop recognizes multimedia key (as it shows the ban symbol) and could perform that action (play, stop, next, etc.) but there is not target in which direct it (there is no application registered).
Ultimately, with the upgrade, some component of the desktop does not act more as connector and this id the reason why your fix do not work
look for mpris if you want to grow your knowledge