suddenly my audio links dont work

i have several posts on which i included audio links which are still in my media library. they worked just fine for a couple of years. i just went to listen to one today and i click on the link and it doesnt play. tested my other audio links and no-go. i notice that when i click on a link a linebreak happens—not in edit mode but on the page open to the public. odd. i tried re-entering an audio link, to no avail. i’m on a Mac, if that matters.