[REQ] Option to replace 'artist' tags with 'album artist' tags in app search, in subnodes, and in 'find more from'

Report bugs & feature requests for MediaMonkey for Android and learn about the newest beta build.

Moderator: Gurus

HWHAProb1

[REQ] Option to replace 'artist' tags with 'album artist' tags in app search, in subnodes, and in 'find more from'

Post by HWHAProb1 »

Like many folks, I have a whole bunch of hip hop artists who prominently used features in their music. This results in many tracks having metadata 'artist' tags like

- Tyler, the Creator
- Tyler, the Creator feat. Earl Sweatshirt
- Tyler, the Creator feat. Frank Ocean
- Tyler, the Creator feat. Kaytranada
etc. but for any artist that has frequent features

On an eye count, as many as 400 artists in my library have some type of duplicate 'artist' tag that includes a feature of some kind.

Normally (on the windows program) this is an issue can be resolved by leaving the 'artist' tag unchanged but ensuring all of the various tracks of one artist (ex. Tyler the Creator) are grouped under the same 'album artist' tag, and then prioritizing 'album artist' when sorting tracks.

However, on MMA, there is no ability to even see "album artist" outside of its own sub node or in the "album" sub node. The 'artist' tag is almost always prioritized.

In effect this makes the search function basically unusable for whole genres of music. If I search for something as simple as Kendrick Lamar, I am met with almost 15+ results of some variation of Kendrick Lamar feat. XYZ. Further, if I search select the general option of "Kendrick Lamar," any song that includes a feature is not included in his artist page. This means that albums on that artist's page are broken into chunks, with any collaborative tracks missing. All this despite every one of those tracks sharing the same 'album artist' tag of Kendrick Lamar.

This is also presents issues when exploring various sub nodes, for example, in the genre category. If I select "hip hop" the only sub nodes are "artists" "albums" and "tracks." This means that, to find a specific artist in that genre node I need to either:
(1) scroll the 'artists' tab subnode, select one of potentially 20 semi-identical artist tabs, select that artist, play the track, and then use the "find more from" to get the full album of an album artist [note the 'find more from' feature ALSO doesn't give 'album artist as an option] OR
(2) scroll the 'albums' tab subnode to find a particular album, which is (a) sorted alphabetically by album by default and (b) does not give the option to sort alphabetically by 'album artist.'

---

This brings me to my request -- Include either:

(1) A selectable option in settings to replace 'artist' with 'album artist' whenever possible, be it the search function, various subnodes like 'genre', and in the 'find more from' feature. I.e.
(a) Searching "Kendrick Lamar" brings up one artist result - "Kendrick Lamar" which, upon selection, takes you to the Kendrick Lamar album artist page.
(b) Selecting the "genre" node, then selecting hip hop, and then having 'Album artist' replace 'artist' as one of the three subnode tabs listed (AA/Albums/Tracks)
(c) Selecting 'find more from' gives you the option to select 'from XYZ 'album artist'' instead of from 'XYZ artist'

OR

(2) The ability to customize:
(a) subnodes in a manner similar to the web app, where I can select which tags to display in various tabs.
I.e. When on the genre node, I can select a genre and then choose which tags to highlight at the top of the screen.(be it 'added,' 'composer', 'year,' or 'album artist' etc.), and
(b) what tags are brought up in search results
I.e. I can go to settings, choose which specific common tags to highlight in search (ex. composer) and then searching name will display various composers with a accompanying 'composer' icon.

-

Additionally, having something as simple as a 'sort by [album artist (descending)]' feature on something like the "albums" node would be a god-send.
Lowlander
Posts: 59208
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:53 pm

Re: [REQ] Option to replace 'artist' tags with 'album artist' tags in app search, in subnodes, and in 'find more from'

Post by Lowlander »

Note that this isn't an issue if you use multi-value tags instead of feat (ie. Tyler, the Creator; Earl Sweatshirt instead of Tyler, the Creator feat. Earl Sweatshirt). as then you'd have a single result for Tyler, the Creator.
HWHAProb1

Re: [REQ] Option to replace 'artist' tags with 'album artist' tags in app search, in subnodes, and in 'find more from'

Post by HWHAProb1 »

Couple of issues with that as a blanket solution:

1. Labor: I spent a significant amount of time ensuring my library of roughly 30k songs has accurate album artist tagging, complete with multi tags. The process took multiple days. Currently my library has 1900 unique 'album artist' tags and 3442 unique 'artist' tags. The number of individual tracks with a "feat" label is 907. The process of renaming each individual artist tag for these discrepancies can take days.

2. Inaccuracy / Inefficiency : Some album artists, particularly in House, Disco, Techno and Classical, will have tracks where the album artist (typically a DJ, Label, or Curator) had zero input.

Ex. A Larry Levan DJ compilation album may have 20 tracks by various artists, none Larry Levan, so he is only listed as album artist. In the current set up, to search for that compilation album, I'd either need to artificially insert Larry Levan as an artist on tracks which he did not create, or I need to either remember which exact compilation I want and search for it by name (note - many of these albums have titles like "a night of disco").
Lowlander
Posts: 59208
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:53 pm

Re: [REQ] Option to replace 'artist' tags with 'album artist' tags in app search, in subnodes, and in 'find more from'

Post by Lowlander »

Search includes Album Artist, so if an Artist is only listed as Album Artist it will still be returned when searching for this Artist.
HWHAProb2

Re: [REQ] Option to replace 'artist' tags with 'album artist' tags in app search, in subnodes, and in 'find more from'

Post by HWHAProb2 »

Could it be made more clear which results are Album Artists vs Artists in those search results then. I have no way of distinguishing between the AA page and the artist page since the icon is the exact same.

Also, just to back up my other point about wanting a sort by feature - the app I used to use 'Musicolet' has a sort function for the albums page that includes "sort albums by album artist ascending/descending." For a program like Media Monkey whose Windows companion has almost limitless functionality in that regard, it seems a little silly to default to just alphabetical album titles in the android app.
Post Reply