Last.fm changes the case of tags (incorrectly)

Edit by me, TheMannen
Edit by Studogvetmed on 11/9/08
Edit by Studogvetmed on 2/12/09 to address "auto correction" information for spelling errors. Remember this thread is NOT about spelling, it is about the "case" of the titles.

Since this thread doesn't seem to be dying any time soon, I figured I should post some info here on what we moderators can and can't do. So, what we can do:

- Change caps/capitalization on artists, albums and tracks. ARTIST X -> Artist x, Album x -> album X, Track X -> TrAcK X, etc, you get it.

What we can't do:

- Note that a lot of the "things we can't do" are addressed with the new auto-correction system that was introducted at the end of January 2009. For more information on how to flag incorrect corrections, or make suggestion for new redirects, please see some of these threads:

http://www.last.fm/forum/21713/_/499715
http://www.last.fm/forum/21713/_/502494

- We can only change this with "standard English" letters - so if you have a song called SÅNG X but want it changed to Sång X, we unfortunately can't do that. Instead, you should use the "Suggest a correction" link on the artist/track page.

- We can't add/remove letters in any way. Again, use the "Suggest a correction" link.

- If there is more than one artist with a certain name (that you think should be changed), then changing that would be sort of unfair, don't you think? Unless of course, both artists capitalize their name the same.

What you should do:

-Limit each post to 10 posts. This helps us stay organized while correcting, limiting open tabs during our work. You can make multiple posts in a row, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE limit each post to 10 requests. Some posts with over 10 requests in a single post may be ignored completely.

- Proof is always good, however, it's only really necessary when you want something changed to something that's not standard capitalization. Eg Band -> BAND. Musicbrainz is probably the best source (partly because we don't have to look around some flashy site in a language we don't understand, partly because that's usually the standard we follow here).

- Try to use the Markup stuff when linking to the pages that need fixing. You do this either by typing the code manually (read more here) or click on the Artist/Album/Track buttons just below the box where you type your post. This will make it easier for us to go to the pages and see what's been fixed and not.

- Refrain from extraneous tagging discussion. It clogs up the thread and makes it tough for us to stay organized. Limit posts to simple requests for changes. Please also try to refrain from correcting other requests, as it invites debate that clogs up the thread. The mods know when a "A" should not be capitalized, etc.

- Don't be surprised if we abandon the thread. While we can change these things, it simply gets very boring.

- Thank yous are always nice.

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Original post:

I have an artist named 'Frank Vander linden' - note that the last 'l' is lower-case. My tags and scrobble logs are correct.

No matter which way I scrobble (last.fm client, qtscrobbler,...), Last.fm continues to report that I scrobble 'Frank Vander Linden'

This is particulary embarrassing because I know the artist personally and this last.fm error makes him think I cannot spell his name correctly.

Please please can this be corrected?

If he has an official homepage it's usually the best proof of all. Or personal blog, or something else written by him where he refers to himself that way.

Fixed this. Any idea why he writes his name like that though?

Turning Page to: Turning Page

Though having proof is obviously good, when it's simple stuff like this it's not really needed. However, iF tHe ArTiSt Is SuPpOsEd To Be WrItTeN lIkE tHiS, I won't do it without a lot of good sources proving it.

I fixed both of those btw. Just so you know though, I don't check the forums that often these days, and the other mods don't seem to like doing it (perhaps because they actually have better stuff to do ;), so sending me a PM might be a better idea. (Ugh, I'll probably regret saying that...) Also, all threads about this before have been locked. So... yeah. :P

One thing that bothers me, other than this, is the constant capitalisation of the in the middle of an artist name or song name. Isn't it just proper grammar to lowercase words like "the" and "of"?

So in terms of track names, 99% of the time they'll never be changed unless someone see's it and manually makes the change?

Question that slightly relates to this issue.

Can capitalization be a way of separating artists with the same name?

My question stems from the fact that I listen to a band called DATA and they share a page with other artists named Data so they appear on my charts as 'Data' rather than DATA. I was wondering if this could be a way of separating them.

RE Frank Vander linden:

TheMannen said:
Fixed this. Any idea why he writes his name like that though?

yes, because that is his actual (real life) name, and names in Belgium are case sensitive ;)

anyway, thanks a lot for fixing, much appreciated!

Not a request per se, but perhaps you could have some sort of popularity check for spelling? Say, if the original song/name was submitted not cOrrEcTLY, but 95 % of all scrobbles after the initial submission will have the spelling Correctly then the system would automatically change the spelling to the most "voted" (scrobbled) spelling?

I think it would solve a lot of incorrect initial submissions, and since it would work by popularity it would take *a lot* (millions of scrobbles in many cases) of effort from a malicious person to sabotage proper spellings.

Really good idea indeed, seriously!

mattgcn said:
One thing that bothers me, other than this, is the constant capitalisation of the in the middle of an artist name or song name. Isn't it just proper grammar to lowercase words like "the" and "of"?

Sure it's proper grammar, see CapitalizationStandard. However, the rules for English are so convoluted, and most people who don't capitalize all words probably aren't aware of the rules and just guess anyway. I think most of the time it comes down to personal preference, like it does with titles and headings in the publishing industry. If MusicBrainz can sort out my capitalization I'd consider using that, but I prefer all words to be capitalized because I find it nicer to read (and of course easier to maintain).

Perth Express to Perth Express
Mexican Power Authority to Mexican Power Authority

Thanks! :)