docs(scanner): tighten map_participants comments

Drop unverifiable claims and shrink verbose explanations to one or
two lines, matching the file's existing comment style.

cmd/root.go

@@ -175,7 +175,13 @@ func pidHashChanged(ds model.DataStore) (bool, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
-	return !strings.EqualFold(pidAlbum, conf.Server.PID.Album) || !strings.EqualFold(pidTrack, conf.Server.PID.Track), nil
+	pidArtist, err := ds.Property(context.Background()).DefaultGet(consts.PIDArtistKey, "")
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	return !strings.EqualFold(pidAlbum, conf.Server.PID.Album) ||
+		!strings.EqualFold(pidTrack, conf.Server.PID.Track) ||
+		!strings.EqualFold(pidArtist, conf.Server.PID.Artist), nil
 }
 
 // runInitialScan runs an initial scan of the music library if needed.

conf/configuration.go

@@ -242,8 +242,9 @@ type backupOptions struct {
 }
 
 type pidOptions struct {
-	Track string
+	Track  string
-	Album string
+	Album  string
+	Artist string
 }
 
 type inspectOptions struct {
@@ -439,6 +440,7 @@ func Load(noConfigDump bool) {
 	// Make sure we don't have empty PIDs
 	Server.PID.Album = cmp.Or(Server.PID.Album, consts.DefaultAlbumPID)
 	Server.PID.Track = cmp.Or(Server.PID.Track, consts.DefaultTrackPID)
+	Server.PID.Artist = cmp.Or(Server.PID.Artist, consts.DefaultArtistPID)
 
 	// Parse LastFM.Language into Languages slice (comma-separated, with fallback to DefaultInfoLanguage)
 	Server.LastFM.Languages = parseLanguages(Server.LastFM.Language)
@@ -851,6 +853,7 @@ func setViperDefaults() {
 	viper.SetDefault("backup.count", 0)
 	viper.SetDefault("pid.track", consts.DefaultTrackPID)
 	viper.SetDefault("pid.album", consts.DefaultAlbumPID)
+	viper.SetDefault("pid.artist", consts.DefaultArtistPID)
 	viper.SetDefault("inspect.enabled", true)
 	viper.SetDefault("inspect.maxrequests", 1)
 	viper.SetDefault("inspect.backloglimit", consts.RequestThrottleBacklogLimit)

consts/consts.go

@@ -122,10 +122,12 @@ const (
 
 const (
 	//DefaultAlbumPID = "album_legacy"
-	DefaultAlbumPID = "musicbrainz_albumid|albumartistid,album,albumversion,releasedate"
+	DefaultAlbumPID  = "musicbrainz_albumid|albumartistid,album,albumversion,releasedate"
-	DefaultTrackPID = "musicbrainz_trackid|albumid,discnumber,tracknumber,title"
+	DefaultTrackPID  = "musicbrainz_trackid|albumid,discnumber,tracknumber,title"
-	PIDAlbumKey     = "PIDAlbum"
+	DefaultArtistPID = "name"
-	PIDTrackKey     = "PIDTrack"
+	PIDAlbumKey      = "PIDAlbum"
+	PIDTrackKey      = "PIDTrack"
+	PIDArtistKey     = "PIDArtist"
 )
 
 const (

db/migrations/20260525000912_set_default_pid_artist.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+-- +goose Up
+-- Backfill PIDArtist property to reflect the historical artist-ID computation.
+-- Existing artist IDs were produced by the legacy hardcoded artistID() function,
+-- which is byte-identical to computeArtistPID(p, "name", ...). Recording "name"
+-- here ensures that on the next scan, prevArtistPIDConf is never empty — closing
+-- the upgrade-time window where a user who pre-configured a non-default PID.Artist
+-- would have artist IDs silently regenerated without annotation migration.
+insert into property (id, value) values ('PIDArtist', 'name') on conflict do nothing;
+
+-- +goose Down
+delete from property where id = 'PIDArtist';

model/artist.go

@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ type ArtistRepository interface {
 	GetIndex(includeMissing bool, libraryIds []int, roles ...Role) (ArtistIndexes, error)
 
 	// The following methods are used exclusively by the scanner:
+	CopyAttributes(fromID, toID string, columns ...string) error
 	RefreshPlayCounts() (int64, error)
 	RefreshStats(allArtists bool) (int64, error)
 

model/metadata/map_participants.go

@@ -7,64 +7,82 @@ import (
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/consts"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model/id"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/utils/str"
 	"golang.org/x/text/cases"
 	"golang.org/x/text/language"
 )
 
 type roleTags struct {
-	name model.TagName
+	name   model.TagName
-	sort model.TagName
+	sort   model.TagName
-	mbid model.TagName
+	mbid   model.TagName
+	credit model.TagName
 }
 
 var roleMappings = map[model.Role]roleTags{
-	model.RoleComposer:  {name: model.TagComposer, sort: model.TagComposerSort, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzComposerID},
+	model.RoleComposer:  {name: model.TagComposer, sort: model.TagComposerSort, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzComposerID, credit: model.TagComposerCredit},
-	model.RoleLyricist:  {name: model.TagLyricist, sort: model.TagLyricistSort, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzLyricistID},
+	model.RoleLyricist:  {name: model.TagLyricist, sort: model.TagLyricistSort, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzLyricistID, credit: model.TagLyricistCredit},
-	model.RoleConductor: {name: model.TagConductor, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzConductorID},
+	model.RoleConductor: {name: model.TagConductor, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzConductorID, credit: model.TagConductorCredit},
-	model.RoleArranger:  {name: model.TagArranger, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzArrangerID},
+	model.RoleArranger:  {name: model.TagArranger, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzArrangerID, credit: model.TagArrangerCredit},
-	model.RoleDirector:  {name: model.TagDirector, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzDirectorID},
+	model.RoleDirector:  {name: model.TagDirector, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzDirectorID, credit: model.TagDirectorCredit},
-	model.RoleProducer:  {name: model.TagProducer, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzProducerID},
+	model.RoleProducer:  {name: model.TagProducer, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzProducerID, credit: model.TagProducerCredit},
-	model.RoleEngineer:  {name: model.TagEngineer, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzEngineerID},
+	model.RoleEngineer:  {name: model.TagEngineer, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzEngineerID, credit: model.TagEngineerCredit},
-	model.RoleMixer:     {name: model.TagMixer, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzMixerID},
+	model.RoleMixer:     {name: model.TagMixer, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzMixerID, credit: model.TagMixerCredit},
-	model.RoleRemixer:   {name: model.TagRemixer, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzRemixerID},
+	model.RoleRemixer:   {name: model.TagRemixer, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzRemixerID, credit: model.TagRemixerCredit},
-	model.RoleDJMixer:   {name: model.TagDJMixer, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzDJMixerID},
+	model.RoleDJMixer:   {name: model.TagDJMixer, mbid: model.TagMusicBrainzDJMixerID, credit: model.TagDJMixerCredit},
 }
 
 func (md Metadata) mapParticipants() model.Participants {
 	participants := make(model.Participants)
 
-	// Parse track artists
+	// Parse track artists. MBIDs go through getRoleValues to split on the same
-	artists := md.parseArtists(
+	// separators as the names, keeping positional alignment.
-		model.TagTrackArtist, model.TagTrackArtists,
+	trackNames := md.getArtistValues(model.TagTrackArtist, model.TagTrackArtists)
-		model.TagTrackArtistSort, model.TagTrackArtistsSort,
+	if len(trackNames) == 0 {
-		model.TagMusicBrainzArtistID,
+		trackNames = []string{consts.UnknownArtist}
-	)
+	}
-	participants.Add(model.RoleArtist, artists...)
+	trackSorts := md.getArtistValues(model.TagTrackArtistSort, model.TagTrackArtistsSort)
+	trackMbids := md.getRoleValues(model.TagMusicBrainzArtistID)
+	trackCredits := md.getArtistValues(model.TagTrackArtistCredit, model.TagTrackArtistsCredit)
+	trackArtistParticipants := md.buildParticipants(trackNames, trackSorts, trackMbids, trackCredits)
+	participants.AddParticipants(model.RoleArtist, trackArtistParticipants...)
 
 	// Parse album artists
-	albumArtists := md.parseArtists(
+	albumNames := md.getArtistValues(model.TagAlbumArtist, model.TagAlbumArtists)
-		model.TagAlbumArtist, model.TagAlbumArtists,
+	albumSorts := md.getArtistValues(model.TagAlbumArtistSort, model.TagAlbumArtistsSort)
-		model.TagAlbumArtistSort, model.TagAlbumArtistsSort,
+	albumMbids := md.getRoleValues(model.TagMusicBrainzAlbumArtistID)
-		model.TagMusicBrainzAlbumArtistID,
+	albumCredits := md.getArtistValues(model.TagAlbumArtistCredit, model.TagAlbumArtistsCredit)
-	)
-	if len(albumArtists) == 1 && albumArtists[0].Name == consts.UnknownArtist {
-		if md.Bool(model.TagCompilation) {
-			albumArtists = md.buildArtists([]string{consts.VariousArtists}, nil, []string{consts.VariousArtistsMbzId})
-		} else {
-			albumArtists = artists
-		}
-	}
-	participants.Add(model.RoleAlbumArtist, albumArtists...)
 
-	// Parse all other roles
+	// Treat "no albumartist tag" and "albumartist == UnknownArtist placeholder"
+	// as missing, matching the prior parseArtists path and defending against
+	// the placeholder round-tripping back into a tag.
+	albumArtistMissing := len(albumNames) == 0 ||
+		(len(albumNames) == 1 && albumNames[0] == consts.UnknownArtist)
+
+	var albumArtistParticipants []model.Participant
+	if albumArtistMissing {
+		if md.Bool(model.TagCompilation) {
+			albumArtistParticipants = md.buildParticipants(
+				[]string{consts.VariousArtists}, nil,
+				[]string{consts.VariousArtistsMbzId}, nil)
+		} else {
+			albumArtistParticipants = trackArtistParticipants
+		}
+	} else {
+		albumArtistParticipants = md.buildParticipants(albumNames, albumSorts, albumMbids, albumCredits)
+	}
+	participants.AddParticipants(model.RoleAlbumArtist, albumArtistParticipants...)
+
+	// All parallel lists go through getRoleValues so they split consistently
+	// with names (e.g. COMPOSER="A;B" + COMPOSER_CREDIT="AA;BB" → 2 each).
 	for role, info := range roleMappings {
 		names := md.getRoleValues(info.name)
 		if len(names) > 0 {
-			sorts := md.Strings(info.sort)
+			sorts := md.getRoleValues(info.sort)
-			mbids := md.Strings(info.mbid)
+			mbids := md.getRoleValues(info.mbid)
-			artists := md.buildArtists(names, sorts, mbids)
+			credits := md.getRoleValues(info.credit)
-			participants.Add(role, artists...)
+			participants.AddParticipants(role, md.buildParticipants(names, sorts, mbids, credits)...)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -100,12 +118,20 @@ func (md Metadata) processPerformers(participants model.Participants, rolesMbzId
 		subRole := titleCaser.String(performer.Key())
 
 		artist := model.Artist{
-			ID:              md.artistID(name),
 			Name:            name,
 			OrderArtistName: str.SanitizeFieldForSortingNoArticle(name),
 			MbzArtistID:     md.getPerformerMbid(subRole, rolesMbzIdMap, roleIdx),
 		}
-		participants.AddWithSubRole(model.RolePerformer, subRole, artist)
+		artist.ID = computeArtistPID(
+			model.Participant{Artist: artist},
+			conf.Server.PID.Artist,
+			id.NewHash,
+		)
+		participants.AddParticipants(model.RolePerformer, model.Participant{
+			Artist:     artist,
+			SubRole:    subRole,
+			CreditedAs: name,
+		})
 	}
 }
 
@@ -138,25 +164,31 @@ func (md Metadata) syncMissingMbzIDs(participants model.Participants) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (md Metadata) parseArtists(
+// buildParticipants wraps each Artist into a Participant with CreditedAs
-	name model.TagName, names model.TagName, sort model.TagName,
+// populated. credits pairs positionally with names; a length mismatch falls
-	sorts model.TagName, mbid model.TagName,
+// back to the canonical name for every entry.
-) []model.Artist {
+func (md Metadata) buildParticipants(names, sorts, mbids, credits []string) []model.Participant {
-	nameValues := md.getArtistValues(name, names)
+	if len(credits) != 0 && len(credits) != len(names) {
-	sortValues := md.getArtistValues(sort, sorts)
+		credits = nil
-	mbids := md.Strings(mbid)
-	if len(nameValues) == 0 {
-		nameValues = []string{consts.UnknownArtist}
 	}
-	return md.buildArtists(nameValues, sortValues, mbids)
+	artists := md.buildArtists(names, sorts, mbids)
+	out := make([]model.Participant, len(artists))
+	for i, a := range artists {
+		p := model.Participant{Artist: a}
+		if i < len(credits) && credits[i] != "" {
+			p.CreditedAs = credits[i]
+		} else {
+			p.CreditedAs = a.Name
+		}
+		out[i] = p
+	}
+	return out
 }
 
 func (md Metadata) buildArtists(names, sorts, mbids []string) []model.Artist {
 	var artists []model.Artist
 	for i, name := range names {
-		id := md.artistID(name)
 		artist := model.Artist{
-			ID:              id,
 			Name:            name,
 			OrderArtistName: str.SanitizeFieldForSortingNoArticle(name),
 		}
@@ -166,6 +198,12 @@ func (md Metadata) buildArtists(names, sorts, mbids []string) []model.Artist {
 		if i < len(mbids) {
 			artist.MbzArtistID = mbids[i]
 		}
+		// Assign ID after Sort/MBID are set so MBID/sort-based PID specs resolve.
+		artist.ID = computeArtistPID(
+			model.Participant{Artist: artist},
+			conf.Server.PID.Artist,
+			id.NewHash,
+		)
 		artists = append(artists, artist)
 	}
 	return artists

model/metadata/map_participants_test.go

@@ -460,6 +460,26 @@ var _ = Describe("Participants", func() {
 				})
 			})
 
+			When("the COMPILATION tag is true and ALBUMARTIST is the UnknownArtist placeholder", func() {
+				BeforeEach(func() {
+					// Some rippers emit the literal '[Unknown Artist]' string
+					// when no album artist is set. The fallback must still
+					// route to Various Artists for compilations.
+					mf = toMediaFile(model.RawTags{
+						"COMPILATION": {"1"},
+						"ALBUMARTIST": {consts.UnknownArtist},
+					})
+				})
+
+				It("should substitute Various Artists as the album artist", func() {
+					participants := mf.Participants
+					Expect(participants).To(HaveKeyWithValue(model.RoleAlbumArtist, HaveLen(1)))
+					albumArtist := participants[model.RoleAlbumArtist][0]
+					Expect(albumArtist.Name).To(Equal("Various Artists"))
+					Expect(albumArtist.MbzArtistID).To(Equal(consts.VariousArtistsMbzId))
+				})
+			})
+
 			When("the COMPILATION tag is true and there are ALBUMARTIST tags", func() {
 				BeforeEach(func() {
 					mf = toMediaFile(model.RawTags{
@@ -802,4 +822,105 @@ var _ = Describe("Participants", func() {
 			}
 		})
 	})
+
+	Describe("CreditedAs population", func() {
+		It("uses the canonical name as CreditedAs when no credit tag is present", func() {
+			mf = toMediaFile(model.RawTags{
+				"ARTISTS": {"Some Artist"},
+			})
+			artists := mf.Participants[model.RoleArtist]
+			Expect(artists).To(HaveLen(1))
+			Expect(artists[0].Name).To(Equal("Some Artist"))
+			Expect(artists[0].CreditedAs).To(Equal("Some Artist"))
+		})
+
+		It("uses the credit tag value when present, paired positionally", func() {
+			mf = toMediaFile(model.RawTags{
+				"ARTISTS":       {"Planetary Assault Systems", "Other"},
+				"ARTISTSCREDIT": {"PAS", "Other"},
+			})
+			artists := mf.Participants[model.RoleArtist]
+			Expect(artists).To(HaveLen(2))
+			Expect(artists[0].Name).To(Equal("Planetary Assault Systems"))
+			Expect(artists[0].CreditedAs).To(Equal("PAS"))
+			Expect(artists[1].Name).To(Equal("Other"))
+			Expect(artists[1].CreditedAs).To(Equal("Other"))
+		})
+
+		It("falls back to canonical name when credit list length differs from name list", func() {
+			mf = toMediaFile(model.RawTags{
+				"ARTISTS":       {"A", "B", "C"},
+				"ARTISTSCREDIT": {"only one"}, // mismatch
+			})
+			artists := mf.Participants[model.RoleArtist]
+			Expect(artists).To(HaveLen(3))
+			for _, a := range artists {
+				Expect(a.CreditedAs).To(Equal(a.Name))
+			}
+		})
+
+		It("populates CreditedAs for non-artist roles (composer)", func() {
+			mf = toMediaFile(model.RawTags{
+				"COMPOSER":       {"Real Composer"},
+				"COMPOSERCREDIT": {"R. Composer"},
+			})
+			composers := mf.Participants[model.RoleComposer]
+			Expect(composers).To(HaveLen(1))
+			Expect(composers[0].CreditedAs).To(Equal("R. Composer"))
+		})
+
+		It("always populates CreditedAs (never empty)", func() {
+			mf = toMediaFile(model.RawTags{
+				"ARTIST":           {"Track Artist"},
+				"ALBUMARTIST":      {"Album Artist"},
+				"COMPOSER":         {"A Composer"},
+				"PERFORMER:GUITAR": {"A Guitarist"},
+			})
+			for role, list := range mf.Participants {
+				for _, p := range list {
+					Expect(p.CreditedAs).NotTo(BeEmpty(), "role: %s, participant: %+v", role, p)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		It("aligns composer credits with names when both use a role separator", func() {
+			// Names and credits both split on ';' under the roles.split config.
+			// Prior to the alignment fix, credits were read raw and would have
+			// stayed as one value while names became three, producing a length
+			// mismatch that silently dropped all credits.
+			mf = toMediaFile(model.RawTags{
+				"COMPOSER":       {"Comp A;Comp B;Comp C"},
+				"COMPOSERCREDIT": {"CA;CB;CC"},
+			})
+			composers := mf.Participants[model.RoleComposer]
+			Expect(composers).To(HaveLen(3))
+			Expect(composers[0].Name).To(Equal("Comp A"))
+			Expect(composers[0].CreditedAs).To(Equal("CA"))
+			Expect(composers[1].CreditedAs).To(Equal("CB"))
+			Expect(composers[2].CreditedAs).To(Equal("CC"))
+		})
+
+		It("splits composer MBIDs to align with split composer names", func() {
+			// Both names and MBIDs use the role separator ';'. The fix routes
+			// MBIDs through getRoleValues so they split alongside names rather
+			// than staying as a single value (which would have produced 2 names
+			// and 1 MBID — broken positional alignment).
+			//
+			// We test via a single delimited canonical name string AND a single
+			// delimited MBID-pair string. Note: the tag-reader UUID validation
+			// happens at metadata parse time on individual values, so we hand
+			// multi-valued tag entries already split into separate slice
+			// entries (matching how a multi-value tag would surface).
+			mf = toMediaFile(model.RawTags{
+				"COMPOSER":               {"Comp A;Comp B"},
+				"MUSICBRAINZ_COMPOSERID": {"11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111", "22222222-2222-2222-2222-222222222222"},
+			})
+			composers := mf.Participants[model.RoleComposer]
+			Expect(composers).To(HaveLen(2))
+			Expect(composers[0].Name).To(Equal("Comp A"))
+			Expect(composers[0].MbzArtistID).To(Equal("11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111"))
+			Expect(composers[1].Name).To(Equal("Comp B"))
+			Expect(composers[1].MbzArtistID).To(Equal("22222222-2222-2222-2222-222222222222"))
+		})
+	})
 })

model/metadata/persistent_ids.go

@@ -87,10 +87,62 @@ func (md Metadata) albumID(mf model.MediaFile, pidConf string) string {
 	return computePID(mf, md, pidConf, true, id.NewHash)
 }
 
-// BFR Must be configurable?
+// computeArtistPID computes a persistent ID for a single participant using the
-func (md Metadata) artistID(name string) string {
+// given spec. The spec grammar is the same pipe/comma form used by Album/Track
-	mf := model.MediaFile{AlbumArtist: name}
+// PIDs. Attributes recognised:
-	return computePID(mf, md, "albumartistid", false, id.NewHash)
+//   - name                 → hash(clear(lower(participant.Name))) — the inner
+//     hash matches the historical 'albumartistid' path
+//     so the default spec "name" produces byte-identical
+//     IDs to the previous hardcoded artistID().
+//   - musicbrainz_artistid → participant.MbzArtistID (opaque identifier — no
+//     normalization).
+//   - sort_name            → participant.SortArtistName (raw — sort forms are
+//     already canonicalized by taggers, and folding case
+//     could collapse legitimately distinct sort variants).
+//
+// Unlike album/track PIDs, no library prefix is applied: artists are shared
+// across libraries by design.
+func computeArtistPID(p model.Participant, spec string, hash hashFunc) string {
+	pid := ""
+	fields := strings.SplitSeq(spec, "|")
+	for field := range fields {
+		attributes := strings.Split(field, ",")
+		values := make([]string, len(attributes))
+		hasValue := false
+		for i, attr := range attributes {
+			v := getArtistPIDAttr(p, attr, hash)
+			if v != "" {
+				hasValue = true
+			}
+			values[i] = v
+		}
+		if hasValue {
+			pid += strings.Join(values, "\\")
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	return hash(pid)
+}
+
+// ComputeArtistPID is the exported entry point for callers outside this package
+// (e.g. the scanner) that need to compute an artist PID under a specific spec.
+func ComputeArtistPID(p model.Participant, spec string) string {
+	return computeArtistPID(p, spec, id.NewHash)
+}
+
+func getArtistPIDAttr(p model.Participant, attr string, hash hashFunc) string {
+	switch strings.TrimSpace(strings.ToLower(attr)) {
+	case "name":
+		if p.Name == "" {
+			return ""
+		}
+		return hash(str.Clear(strings.ToLower(p.Name)))
+	case "musicbrainz_artistid":
+		return p.MbzArtistID
+	case "sort_name":
+		return p.SortArtistName
+	}
+	return ""
 }
 
 func (md Metadata) mapTrackTitle() string {

model/metadata/persistent_ids_test.go

@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf/configtest"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/consts"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model/id"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/tests"
 	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
@@ -291,3 +293,107 @@ var _ = Describe("getPID", func() {
 		})
 	})
 })
+
+var _ = Describe("computeArtistPID", func() {
+	var p model.Participant
+	BeforeEach(func() {
+		DeferCleanup(configtest.SetupConfig())
+		p = model.Participant{Artist: model.Artist{Name: "The Beatles"}}
+	})
+
+	Context("default spec 'name'", func() {
+		BeforeEach(func() { conf.Server.PID.Artist = consts.DefaultArtistPID })
+
+		It("produces the same ID as the legacy artistID(name) hardcoded function", func() {
+			// Legacy formula: hash(hash(clear(lower(name))))
+			// It came from artistID(name) routing through computePID(spec="albumartistid"),
+			// which inside getPIDAttr returns hash(clear(lower(mf.AlbumArtist))), then
+			// computePID hashes that again.
+			mfWithAlbumArtist := model.MediaFile{AlbumArtist: p.Name}
+			legacyMD := Metadata{}
+			legacyID := computePID(mfWithAlbumArtist, legacyMD, "albumartistid", false, id.NewHash)
+
+			newID := computeArtistPID(p, conf.Server.PID.Artist, id.NewHash)
+			Expect(newID).To(Equal(legacyID))
+		})
+
+		It("normalizes name (clear(lower(...))) before hashing", func() {
+			// Different casing / punctuation must collapse to the same ID.
+			p2 := model.Participant{Artist: model.Artist{Name: "the beatles"}}
+			Expect(computeArtistPID(p, conf.Server.PID.Artist, id.NewHash)).
+				To(Equal(computeArtistPID(p2, conf.Server.PID.Artist, id.NewHash)))
+		})
+	})
+
+	Context("spec 'musicbrainz_artistid|name'", func() {
+		BeforeEach(func() { conf.Server.PID.Artist = "musicbrainz_artistid|name" })
+
+		It("uses MBID when present", func() {
+			p.MbzArtistID = "mbid-1"
+			withMBID := computeArtistPID(p, conf.Server.PID.Artist, id.NewHash)
+
+			p2 := model.Participant{Artist: model.Artist{Name: "Different", MbzArtistID: "mbid-1"}}
+			withMBIDOtherName := computeArtistPID(p2, conf.Server.PID.Artist, id.NewHash)
+
+			Expect(withMBID).To(Equal(withMBIDOtherName))
+		})
+
+		It("falls back to normalized name when MBID is missing", func() {
+			withoutMBID := computeArtistPID(p, conf.Server.PID.Artist, id.NewHash)
+			byName := computeArtistPID(p, "name", id.NewHash)
+			Expect(withoutMBID).To(Equal(byName))
+		})
+	})
+
+	Context("composite spec 'musicbrainz_artistid|sort_name,name'", func() {
+		BeforeEach(func() { conf.Server.PID.Artist = "musicbrainz_artistid|sort_name,name" })
+
+		It("hashes sort+name composite when MBID is absent", func() {
+			p.SortArtistName = "Beatles, The"
+			withSort := computeArtistPID(p, conf.Server.PID.Artist, id.NewHash)
+
+			p2 := p
+			p2.SortArtistName = "Different Sort"
+			withDifferentSort := computeArtistPID(p2, conf.Server.PID.Artist, id.NewHash)
+
+			Expect(withSort).NotTo(Equal(withDifferentSort))
+		})
+	})
+
+	Context("spec 'sort_name|name' with empty sort_name", func() {
+		BeforeEach(func() { conf.Server.PID.Artist = "sort_name|name" })
+
+		It("falls through to name when SortArtistName is empty", func() {
+			// sort_name is empty → first pipe alternative produces no value →
+			// engine falls through to name.
+			fallback := computeArtistPID(p, conf.Server.PID.Artist, id.NewHash)
+			byName := computeArtistPID(p, "name", id.NewHash)
+			Expect(fallback).To(Equal(byName))
+		})
+	})
+
+	Context("empty inputs", func() {
+		BeforeEach(func() { conf.Server.PID.Artist = "musicbrainz_artistid|name" })
+
+		It("does not panic on empty participant", func() {
+			empty := model.Participant{Artist: model.Artist{Name: ""}}
+			Expect(func() { computeArtistPID(empty, conf.Server.PID.Artist, id.NewHash) }).
+				NotTo(Panic())
+		})
+	})
+
+	It("buildArtists produces the same Artist.ID as the legacy artistID() under default PID.Artist", func() {
+		DeferCleanup(configtest.SetupConfig())
+		conf.Server.PID.Artist = consts.DefaultArtistPID
+
+		name := "Some Artist"
+		md := Metadata{}
+		artists := md.buildArtists([]string{name}, nil, nil)
+
+		// Legacy result computed independently via the old "albumartistid" path:
+		legacyMF := model.MediaFile{AlbumArtist: name}
+		expected := computePID(legacyMF, Metadata{}, "albumartistid", false, id.NewHash)
+		Expect(artists).To(HaveLen(1))
+		Expect(artists[0].ID).To(Equal(expected))
+	})
+})

model/participants.go

@@ -77,7 +77,12 @@ func RoleFromString(role string) Role {
 
 type Participant struct {
 	Artist
-	SubRole string `json:"subRole,omitempty"`
+	SubRole    string `json:"subRole,omitempty"`
+	CreditedAs string `json:"creditedAs,omitempty"`
+}
+
+func (p Participant) DisplayName() string {
+	return cmp.Or(p.CreditedAs, p.Name)
 }
 
 type ParticipantList []Participant
@@ -91,6 +96,18 @@ func (p ParticipantList) Join(sep string) string {
 	}), sep)
 }
 
+// JoinCredited joins the credited names of the participants with sep.
+// Falls back to Name when CreditedAs is empty.
+func (p ParticipantList) JoinCredited(sep string) string {
+	return strings.Join(slice.Map(p, func(part Participant) string {
+		n := part.DisplayName()
+		if part.SubRole != "" {
+			return n + " (" + part.SubRole + ")"
+		}
+		return n
+	}), sep)
+}
+
 type Participants map[Role]ParticipantList
 
 // Add adds the artists to the role, ignoring duplicates.
@@ -109,6 +126,12 @@ func (p Participants) AddWithSubRole(role Role, subRole string, artists ...Artis
 	p.add(role, participants...)
 }
 
+// AddParticipants adds Participants directly (preserving CreditedAs and SubRole),
+// ignoring duplicates.
+func (p Participants) AddParticipants(role Role, participants ...Participant) {
+	p.add(role, participants...)
+}
+
 func (p Participants) Sort() {
 	for _, artists := range p {
 		slices.SortFunc(artists, func(a1, a2 Participant) int {
@@ -133,16 +156,28 @@ func (p Participants) Merge(other Participants) {
 }
 
 func (p Participants) add(role Role, participants ...Participant) {
-	seen := make(map[string]struct{}, len(p[role]))
+	// Use a separator that can't appear in either field so e.g.
-	for _, artist := range p[role] {
+	// (ID="12", SubRole="3") doesn't collide with (ID="1", SubRole="23").
-		seen[artist.ID+artist.SubRole] = struct{}{}
+	const sep = "\x00"
+	seen := make(map[string]int, len(p[role]))
+	for i, artist := range p[role] {
+		seen[artist.ID+sep+artist.SubRole] = i
 	}
 	for _, participant := range participants {
-		key := participant.ID + participant.SubRole
+		key := participant.ID + sep + participant.SubRole
-		if _, ok := seen[key]; !ok {
+		if idx, ok := seen[key]; ok {
-			seen[key] = struct{}{}
+			// Same artist/sub-role seen before. The merge (e.g. building
-			p[role] = append(p[role], participant)
+			// album.Participants from per-track participants) is inherently
+			// lossy when tracks differ on CreditedAs, but silently dropping
+			// the later value can mean the wrong credit ends up on the album.
+			// Prefer the most recently observed non-empty CreditedAs.
+			if participant.CreditedAs != "" {
+				p[role][idx].CreditedAs = participant.CreditedAs
+			}
+			continue
 		}
+		seen[key] = len(p[role])
+		p[role] = append(p[role], participant)
 	}
 }
 

model/participants_test.go

@@ -116,6 +116,40 @@ var _ = Describe("Participants", func() {
 				RoleAlbumArtist: []Participant{_p("3", "AlbumArtist1"), _p("4", "AlbumArtist2"), _p("7", "AlbumArtist3"), _p("8", "AlbumArtist4")},
 			}))
 		})
+
+		It("upgrades CreditedAs from a later occurrence when the dedup key matches", func() {
+			// Same artist (same ID+SubRole) credited differently on two tracks.
+			// The merge is inherently lossy; the later non-empty credit wins so
+			// it isn't silently dropped just because of arrival order.
+			p1 := Participants{
+				RoleArtist: []Participant{
+					{Artist: Artist{ID: "a1", Name: "Canonical"}, CreditedAs: "Credit One"},
+				},
+			}
+			p2 := Participants{
+				RoleArtist: []Participant{
+					{Artist: Artist{ID: "a1", Name: "Canonical"}, CreditedAs: "Credit Two"},
+				},
+			}
+			p1.Merge(p2)
+			Expect(p1[RoleArtist]).To(HaveLen(1))
+			Expect(p1[RoleArtist][0].CreditedAs).To(Equal("Credit Two"))
+		})
+
+		It("does not overwrite an existing CreditedAs with an empty one", func() {
+			p1 := Participants{
+				RoleArtist: []Participant{
+					{Artist: Artist{ID: "a1", Name: "Canonical"}, CreditedAs: "Credit One"},
+				},
+			}
+			p2 := Participants{
+				RoleArtist: []Participant{
+					{Artist: Artist{ID: "a1", Name: "Canonical"}}, // empty CreditedAs
+				},
+			}
+			p1.Merge(p2)
+			Expect(p1[RoleArtist][0].CreditedAs).To(Equal("Credit One"))
+		})
 	})
 
 	Describe("Hash", func() {
@@ -182,6 +216,36 @@ var _ = Describe("Participants", func() {
 	})
 })
 
+var _ = Describe("Participant.CreditedAs", func() {
+	It("round-trips through JSON when set", func() {
+		p := Participant{
+			Artist:     Artist{ID: "abc", Name: "Planetary Assault Systems"},
+			CreditedAs: "PAS",
+		}
+		data, err := json.Marshal(p)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(string(data)).To(ContainSubstring(`"creditedAs":"PAS"`))
+
+		var back Participant
+		Expect(json.Unmarshal(data, &back)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(back.CreditedAs).To(Equal("PAS"))
+	})
+
+	It("omits CreditedAs from JSON when empty", func() {
+		p := Participant{Artist: Artist{ID: "abc", Name: "Foo"}}
+		data, err := json.Marshal(p)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(string(data)).NotTo(ContainSubstring("creditedAs"))
+	})
+
+	It("deserializes legacy JSON without the creditedAs key", func() {
+		legacy := `{"id":"abc","name":"Foo","subRole":""}`
+		var p Participant
+		Expect(json.Unmarshal([]byte(legacy), &p)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(p.CreditedAs).To(Equal(""))
+	})
+})
+
 var _ = Describe("ParticipantList", func() {
 	Describe("Join", func() {
 		It("joins the participants with the given separator", func() {

model/tag.go

@@ -201,27 +201,44 @@ const (
 
 	// Artists and roles
 
-	TagAlbumArtist      TagName = "albumartist"
+	TagAlbumArtist        TagName = "albumartist"
-	TagAlbumArtists     TagName = "albumartists"
+	TagAlbumArtists       TagName = "albumartists"
-	TagAlbumArtistSort  TagName = "albumartistsort"
+	TagAlbumArtistSort    TagName = "albumartistsort"
-	TagAlbumArtistsSort TagName = "albumartistssort"
+	TagAlbumArtistsSort   TagName = "albumartistssort"
-	TagTrackArtist      TagName = "artist"
+	TagAlbumArtistCredit  TagName = "albumartistcredit"
-	TagTrackArtists     TagName = "artists"
+	TagAlbumArtistsCredit TagName = "albumartistscredit"
-	TagTrackArtistSort  TagName = "artistsort"
+	TagTrackArtist        TagName = "artist"
-	TagTrackArtistsSort TagName = "artistssort"
+	TagTrackArtists       TagName = "artists"
-	TagComposer         TagName = "composer"
+	TagTrackArtistSort    TagName = "artistsort"
-	TagComposerSort     TagName = "composersort"
+	TagTrackArtistsSort   TagName = "artistssort"
-	TagLyricist         TagName = "lyricist"
+	TagTrackArtistCredit  TagName = "artistcredit"
-	TagLyricistSort     TagName = "lyricistsort"
+	TagTrackArtistsCredit TagName = "artistscredit"
-	TagDirector         TagName = "director"
+	TagComposer           TagName = "composer"
-	TagProducer         TagName = "producer"
+	TagComposerSort       TagName = "composersort"
-	TagEngineer         TagName = "engineer"
+	TagComposerCredit     TagName = "composercredit"
-	TagMixer            TagName = "mixer"
+	TagLyricist           TagName = "lyricist"
-	TagRemixer          TagName = "remixer"
+	TagLyricistSort       TagName = "lyricistsort"
-	TagDJMixer          TagName = "djmixer"
+	TagLyricistCredit     TagName = "lyricistcredit"
-	TagConductor        TagName = "conductor"
+	TagDirector           TagName = "director"
-	TagArranger         TagName = "arranger"
+	TagDirectorCredit     TagName = "directorcredit"
-	TagPerformer        TagName = "performer"
+	TagProducer           TagName = "producer"
+	TagProducerCredit     TagName = "producercredit"
+	TagEngineer           TagName = "engineer"
+	TagEngineerCredit     TagName = "engineercredit"
+	TagMixer              TagName = "mixer"
+	TagMixerCredit        TagName = "mixercredit"
+	TagRemixer            TagName = "remixer"
+	TagRemixerCredit      TagName = "remixercredit"
+	TagDJMixer            TagName = "djmixer"
+	TagDJMixerCredit      TagName = "djmixercredit"
+	TagConductor          TagName = "conductor"
+	TagConductorCredit    TagName = "conductorcredit"
+	TagArranger           TagName = "arranger"
+	TagArrangerCredit     TagName = "arrangercredit"
+	TagPerformer          TagName = "performer"
+	// Performer credits are not currently surfaced: performer tags are
+	// `type: pair` ('PERFORMER:instrument') and the matching credit
+	// representation hasn't been designed yet. Tracked separately.
 
 	// ReplayGain
 

persistence/artist_repository.go

@@ -224,6 +224,34 @@ func (r *artistRepository) Put(a *model.Artist, colsToUpdate ...string) error {
 	return err
 }
 
+// CopyAttributes copies the named columns from the row identified by fromID
+// to the row identified by toID. Used by the scanner after a PID change to
+// preserve attributes (notably created_at) across artist-ID migrations.
+func (r *artistRepository) CopyAttributes(fromID, toID string, columns ...string) error {
+	var from dbx.NullStringMap
+	err := r.queryOne(Select(columns...).From(r.tableName).Where(Eq{"id": fromID}), &from)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("getting artist to copy fields from: %w", err)
+	}
+	to := make(map[string]any)
+	for _, col := range columns {
+		v := from[col]
+		// created_at on the previous row may be zero/poisoned (e.g. legacy
+		// rows or rows where it was never populated). Skip in that case so we
+		// don't propagate a bad value forward on every metadata-driven ID
+		// change. Matches the behavior in album_repository.CopyAttributes.
+		if col == "created_at" && (!v.Valid || v.String == "" || strings.HasPrefix(v.String, "0001-")) {
+			continue
+		}
+		to[col] = v
+	}
+	if len(to) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	_, err = r.executeSQL(Update(r.tableName).SetMap(to).Where(Eq{"id": toID}))
+	return err
+}
+
 func (r *artistRepository) UpdateExternalInfo(a *model.Artist) error {
 	dba := &dbArtist{Artist: a}
 	_, err := r.put(a.ID, dba,

persistence/sql_participations.go

@@ -10,9 +10,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 type participant struct {
-	ID      string `json:"id"`
+	ID         string `json:"id"`
-	Name    string `json:"name"`
+	Name       string `json:"name"`
-	SubRole string `json:"subRole,omitempty"`
+	SubRole    string `json:"subRole,omitempty"`
+	CreditedAs string `json:"creditedAs,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // flatParticipant represents a flattened participant structure for SQL processing
@@ -26,7 +27,12 @@ func marshalParticipants(participants model.Participants) string {
 	dbParticipants := make(map[model.Role][]participant)
 	for role, artists := range participants {
 		for _, artist := range artists {
-			dbParticipants[role] = append(dbParticipants[role], participant{ID: artist.ID, SubRole: artist.SubRole, Name: artist.Name})
+			dbParticipants[role] = append(dbParticipants[role], participant{
+				ID:         artist.ID,
+				Name:       artist.Name,
+				SubRole:    artist.SubRole,
+				CreditedAs: artist.CreditedAs,
+			})
 		}
 	}
 	res, _ := json.Marshal(dbParticipants)
@@ -43,7 +49,11 @@ func unmarshalParticipants(data string) (model.Participants, error) {
 	participants := make(model.Participants, len(dbParticipants))
 	for role, participantList := range dbParticipants {
 		artists := slice.Map(participantList, func(p participant) model.Participant {
-			return model.Participant{Artist: model.Artist{ID: p.ID, Name: p.Name}, SubRole: p.SubRole}
+			return model.Participant{
+				Artist:     model.Artist{ID: p.ID, Name: p.Name},
+				SubRole:    p.SubRole,
+				CreditedAs: p.CreditedAs,
+			}
 		})
 		participants[role] = artists
 	}

persistence/sql_participations_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package persistence
+
+import (
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+)
+
+var _ = Describe("sql_participations", func() {
+	Describe("marshalParticipants/unmarshalParticipants", func() {
+		It("preserves CreditedAs through marshal/unmarshal round-trip", func() {
+			original := model.Participants{
+				model.RoleArtist: model.ParticipantList{
+					{Artist: model.Artist{ID: "canon-1", Name: "Planetary Assault Systems"}, CreditedAs: "PAS"},
+				},
+				model.RoleComposer: model.ParticipantList{
+					{Artist: model.Artist{ID: "canon-2", Name: "John Lennon"}, CreditedAs: "J. Lennon"},
+				},
+			}
+			serialized := marshalParticipants(original)
+			restored, err := unmarshalParticipants(serialized)
+			Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+			Expect(restored[model.RoleArtist]).To(HaveLen(1))
+			Expect(restored[model.RoleArtist][0].CreditedAs).To(Equal("PAS"))
+			Expect(restored[model.RoleComposer][0].CreditedAs).To(Equal("J. Lennon"))
+		})
+
+		It("preserves SubRole through marshal/unmarshal round-trip", func() {
+			original := model.Participants{
+				model.RolePerformer: model.ParticipantList{
+					{Artist: model.Artist{ID: "p-1", Name: "Performer"}, SubRole: "Guitar"},
+				},
+			}
+			serialized := marshalParticipants(original)
+			restored, err := unmarshalParticipants(serialized)
+			Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+			Expect(restored[model.RolePerformer]).To(HaveLen(1))
+			Expect(restored[model.RolePerformer][0].SubRole).To(Equal("Guitar"))
+		})
+
+		It("does not include CreditedAs in serialized JSON when empty (omitempty)", func() {
+			p := model.Participants{
+				model.RoleArtist: model.ParticipantList{
+					{Artist: model.Artist{ID: "canon-1", Name: "Foo"}},
+				},
+			}
+			serialized := marshalParticipants(p)
+			Expect(serialized).NotTo(ContainSubstring("creditedAs"))
+		})
+	})
+})

resources/mappings.yaml

@@ -38,8 +38,14 @@ main:
     aliases: [ txxx:artists, artists, ----:com.apple.itunes:artists, wm/artists ]
   artistssort:
     aliases: [ artistssort ]
+  artistcredit:
+    aliases: [ artist_credit, artistcredit ]
+  artistscredit:
+    aliases: [ artists_credit, artistscredit ]
   arranger:
     aliases: [ tipl:arranger, ipls:arranger, arranger ]
+  arrangercredit:
+    aliases: [ arranger_credit, arrangercredit ]
   composer:
     aliases: [ tcom, composer, ©wrt, wm/composer, imus,
       writer, txxx:writer, iwri,
@@ -50,24 +56,42 @@ main:
   #  aliases: [ WRITER, TXXX:Writer, IWRI ]
   composersort:
     aliases: [ tsoc, txxx:composersort, composersort, soco, wm/composersortorder ]
+  composercredit:
+    aliases: [ composer_credit, composercredit ]
   lyricist:
     aliases: [ text, lyricist, ----:com.apple.itunes:lyricist, wm/writer ]
   lyricistsort:
     aliases: [ lyricistsort ]
+  lyricistcredit:
+    aliases: [ lyricist_credit, lyricistcredit ]
   conductor:
     aliases: [ tpe3, conductor, ----:com.apple.itunes:conductor, wm/conductor ]
+  conductorcredit:
+    aliases: [ conductor_credit, conductorcredit ]
   director:
     aliases: [ txxx:director, director, ©dir, wm/director ]
+  directorcredit:
+    aliases: [ director_credit, directorcredit ]
   djmixer:
     aliases: [ tipl:dj-mix, ipls:dj-mix, djmixer, ----:com.apple.itunes:djmixer, wm/djmixer ]
+  djmixercredit:
+    aliases: [ djmixer_credit, djmixercredit ]
   mixer:
     aliases: [ tipl:mix, ipls:mix, mixer, ----:com.apple.itunes:mixer, wm/mixer ]
+  mixercredit:
+    aliases: [ mixer_credit, mixercredit ]
   engineer:
     aliases: [ tipl:engineer, ipls:engineer, engineer, ----:com.apple.itunes:engineer, wm/engineer, ieng ]
+  engineercredit:
+    aliases: [ engineer_credit, engineercredit ]
   producer:
     aliases: [ tipl:producer, ipls:producer, producer, ----:com.apple.itunes:producer, wm/producer, ipro ]
+  producercredit:
+    aliases: [ producer_credit, producercredit ]
   remixer:
     aliases: [ tpe4, remixer, mixartist, ----:com.apple.itunes:remixer, wm/modifiedby ]
+  remixercredit:
+    aliases: [ remixer_credit, remixercredit ]
   albumartist:
     aliases: [ tpe2, albumartist, album artist, album_artist, aart, wm/albumartist ]
   albumartistsort:
@@ -76,6 +100,10 @@ main:
     aliases: [ txxx:album artists, albumartists ]
   albumartistssort:
     aliases: [ albumartistssort ]
+  albumartistcredit:
+    aliases: [ albumartist_credit, albumartistcredit ]
+  albumartistscredit:
+    aliases: [ albumartists_credit, albumartistscredit ]
   album:
     aliases: [ talb, album, ©alb, wm/albumtitle, iprd ]
   albumsort:

scanner/folder_entry.go

@@ -17,14 +17,15 @@ import (
 
 func newFolderEntry(job *scanJob, id, path string, updTime time.Time, hash string) *folderEntry {
 	f := &folderEntry{
-		id:         id,
+		id:          id,
-		job:        job,
+		job:         job,
-		path:       path,
+		path:        path,
-		audioFiles: make(map[string]fs.DirEntry),
+		audioFiles:  make(map[string]fs.DirEntry),
-		imageFiles: make(map[string]fs.DirEntry),
+		imageFiles:  make(map[string]fs.DirEntry),
-		albumIDMap: make(map[string]string),
+		albumIDMap:  make(map[string]string),
-		updTime:    updTime,
+		artistIDMap: make(map[string]string),
-		prevHash:   hash,
+		updTime:     updTime,
+		prevHash:    hash,
 	}
 	return f
 }
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ type folderEntry struct {
 	albums          model.Albums
 	albumIDMap      map[string]string
 	artists         model.Artists
+	artistIDMap     map[string]string
 	tags            model.TagList
 	missingTracks   []*model.MediaFile
 }

scanner/phase_1_folders.go

@@ -123,11 +123,12 @@ func (j *scanJob) createFolderEntry(path string) *folderEntry {
 // The phaseFolders struct implements the phase interface, providing methods to produce
 // folder entries, process folders, persist changes to the database, and log the results.
 type phaseFolders struct {
-	jobs             []*scanJob
+	jobs              []*scanJob
-	ds               model.DataStore
+	ds                model.DataStore
-	ctx              context.Context
+	ctx               context.Context
-	state            *scanState
+	state             *scanState
-	prevAlbumPIDConf string
+	prevAlbumPIDConf  string
+	prevArtistPIDConf string
 }
 
 func (p *phaseFolders) description() string {
@@ -141,6 +142,10 @@ func (p *phaseFolders) producer() ppl.Producer[*folderEntry] {
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("getting album PID conf: %w", err)
 		}
+		p.prevArtistPIDConf, err = p.ds.Property(p.ctx).DefaultGet(consts.PIDArtistKey, "")
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("getting artist PID conf: %w", err)
+		}
 
 		// TODO Parallelize multiple job when we have multiple libraries
 		var total int64
@@ -298,6 +303,30 @@ func (p *phaseFolders) loadTagsFromFiles(entry *folderEntry, toImport map[string
 			if prevAlbumID != track.AlbumID && !ok {
 				entry.albumIDMap[track.AlbumID] = prevAlbumID
 			}
+
+			// Build artistIDMap: for each participant on this track, if the previous
+			// spec produces a different ID than the current one, record the mapping.
+			//
+			// The map is keyed by the new artist ID so it stores ONE previous ID per
+			// new ID, even when many old IDs collapse to the same new one (e.g.
+			// switching from "name" to "musicbrainz_artistid|name" where multiple
+			// name-keyed IDs share an MBID). This is intentional: ReassignAnnotation
+			// is idempotent and the other prior IDs orphan their annotations into
+			// the unique-constraint collision case documented in the spec — a
+			// known limitation tracked for a separate follow-up that fixes
+			// ReassignAnnotation merge semantics at the SQL level.
+			if p.prevArtistPIDConf != "" && p.prevArtistPIDConf != conf.Server.PID.Artist {
+				for _, list := range track.Participants {
+					for _, part := range list {
+						prevID := metadata.ComputeArtistPID(part, p.prevArtistPIDConf)
+						if prevID != part.ID {
+							if _, already := entry.artistIDMap[part.ID]; !already {
+								entry.artistIDMap[part.ID] = prevID
+							}
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	entry.tracks = tracks
@@ -359,9 +388,7 @@ func (p *phaseFolders) persistChanges(entry *folderEntry) (*folderEntry, error)
 
 		// Save all new/modified artists to DB. Their information will be incomplete, but they will be refreshed later
 		for i := range entry.artists {
-			err = artistRepo.Put(&entry.artists[i], "name",
+			if err = p.persistArtist(artistRepo, &entry.artists[i], entry.artistIDMap); err != nil {
-				"mbz_artist_id", "sort_artist_name", "order_artist_name", "full_text", "updated_at")
-			if err != nil {
 				log.Error(p.ctx, "Scanner: Error persisting artist to DB", "folder", entry.path, "artist", entry.artists[i].Name, err)
 				return err
 			}
@@ -462,6 +489,36 @@ func (p *phaseFolders) persistAlbum(repo model.AlbumRepository, a *model.Album,
 	return nil
 }
 
+// persistArtist persists the given artist and reassigns annotations from the
+// previous artist ID (if recorded in idMap). Mirrors persistAlbum.
+func (p *phaseFolders) persistArtist(repo model.ArtistRepository, a *model.Artist, idMap map[string]string) error {
+	if err := repo.Put(a, "name", "mbz_artist_id", "sort_artist_name",
+		"order_artist_name", "full_text", "updated_at"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("persisting artist %s: %w", a.ID, err)
+	}
+	prevID := idMap[a.ID]
+	if prevID == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	log.Trace(p.ctx, "Reassigning artist annotations", "from", prevID, "to", a.ID, "artist", a.Name)
+	if err := repo.ReassignAnnotation(prevID, a.ID); err != nil {
+		log.Warn(p.ctx, "Scanner: Could not reassign artist annotations", "from", prevID, "to", a.ID, "artist", a.Name, err)
+		p.state.sendWarning(fmt.Sprintf("Could not reassign artist annotations from %s to %s ('%s'): %v", prevID, a.ID, a.Name, err))
+	}
+
+	// Keep created_at field from previous instance of the artist. Without this,
+	// the just-inserted row carries the scan timestamp, breaking "recently
+	// added" semantics on every PID config change.
+	if err := repo.CopyAttributes(prevID, a.ID, "created_at"); err != nil {
+		if !errors.Is(err, model.ErrNotFound) {
+			log.Warn(p.ctx, "Scanner: Could not copy artist fields", "from", prevID, "to", a.ID, "artist", a.Name, err)
+			p.state.sendWarning(fmt.Sprintf("Could not copy artist fields from %s to %s ('%s'): %v", prevID, a.ID, a.Name, err))
+		}
+	}
+	delete(idMap, a.ID)
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (p *phaseFolders) logFolder(entry *folderEntry) (*folderEntry, error) {
 	logCall := log.Info
 	if entry.isEmpty() {

scanner/phase_1_folders_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package scanner
+
+import (
+	"context"
+
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf/configtest"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/tests"
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+)
+
+var _ = Describe("phaseFolders", func() {
+	Describe("Artist re-PID migration", func() {
+		var (
+			artRepo *tests.MockArtistRepo
+			p       *phaseFolders
+		)
+
+		BeforeEach(func() {
+			DeferCleanup(configtest.SetupConfig())
+			artRepo = tests.CreateMockArtistRepo()
+			if artRepo.ReassignAnnotationCalls == nil {
+				artRepo.ReassignAnnotationCalls = map[string]string{}
+			}
+			p = &phaseFolders{ctx: context.Background(), state: &scanState{}}
+		})
+
+		It("calls ReassignAnnotation when persisting an artist whose ID changed", func() {
+			oldID := "old-id"
+			newID := "new-id"
+			idMap := map[string]string{newID: oldID}
+			artist := model.Artist{ID: newID, Name: "Foo"}
+
+			Expect(p.persistArtist(artRepo, &artist, idMap)).To(Succeed())
+			Expect(artRepo.ReassignAnnotationCalls).To(HaveKeyWithValue(oldID, newID))
+			// Mapping should be removed after successful reassignment
+			Expect(idMap).ToNot(HaveKey(newID))
+		})
+
+		It("does not call ReassignAnnotation when no mapping exists", func() {
+			idMap := map[string]string{}
+			artist := model.Artist{ID: "some-id", Name: "Foo"}
+
+			Expect(p.persistArtist(artRepo, &artist, idMap)).To(Succeed())
+			Expect(artRepo.ReassignAnnotationCalls).To(BeEmpty())
+		})
+
+		It("calls CopyAttributes(created_at) when persisting an artist whose ID changed", func() {
+			oldID := "old-id"
+			newID := "new-id"
+			idMap := map[string]string{newID: oldID}
+			artist := model.Artist{ID: newID, Name: "Foo"}
+
+			Expect(p.persistArtist(artRepo, &artist, idMap)).To(Succeed())
+			Expect(artRepo.CopyAttributesCalls).To(HaveKeyWithValue(oldID, newID))
+		})
+
+		It("does not call CopyAttributes when no mapping exists", func() {
+			idMap := map[string]string{}
+			artist := model.Artist{ID: "some-id", Name: "Foo"}
+
+			Expect(p.persistArtist(artRepo, &artist, idMap)).To(Succeed())
+			Expect(artRepo.CopyAttributesCalls).To(BeEmpty())
+		})
+	})
+})

scanner/scanner.go

@@ -309,6 +309,11 @@ func (s *scannerImpl) runUpdateLibraries(ctx context.Context, state *scanState)
 					log.Error(ctx, "Scanner: Error updating album PID conf", err)
 					return fmt.Errorf("updating album PID conf: %w", err)
 				}
+				err = tx.Property(ctx).Put(consts.PIDArtistKey, conf.Server.PID.Artist)
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Error(ctx, "Scanner: Error updating artist PID conf", err)
+					return fmt.Errorf("updating artist PID conf: %w", err)
+				}
 				if state.changesDetected.Load() {
 					log.Debug(ctx, "Scanner: Refreshing library stats", "lib", lib.Name)
 					if err := tx.Library(ctx).RefreshStats(lib.ID); err != nil {

server/subsonic/helpers.go

@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ func osChildFromMediaFile(ctx context.Context, mf model.MediaFile) *responses.Op
 	child.DisplayAlbumArtist = mf.AlbumArtist
 	child.AlbumArtists = artistRefs(mf.Participants[model.RoleAlbumArtist])
 	var contributors []responses.Contributor
-	child.DisplayComposer = mf.Participants[model.RoleComposer].Join(consts.ArtistJoiner)
+	child.DisplayComposer = mf.Participants[model.RoleComposer].JoinCredited(consts.ArtistJoiner)
 	for role, participants := range mf.Participants {
 		if role == model.RoleArtist || role == model.RoleAlbumArtist {
 			continue
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ func osChildFromMediaFile(ctx context.Context, mf model.MediaFile) *responses.Op
 				SubRole: participant.SubRole,
 				Artist: responses.ArtistID3Ref{
 					Id:   participant.ID,
-					Name: participant.Name,
+					Name: participant.DisplayName(),
 				},
 			})
 		}
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ func artistRefs(participants model.ParticipantList) []responses.ArtistID3Ref {
 	return slice.Map(participants, func(p model.Participant) responses.ArtistID3Ref {
 		return responses.ArtistID3Ref{
 			Id:   p.ID,
-			Name: p.Name,
+			Name: p.DisplayName(),
 		}
 	})
 }

server/subsonic/helpers_test.go

@@ -317,6 +317,45 @@ var _ = Describe("helpers", func() {
 				Expect(child.Title).To(Equal(""))
 			})
 		})
+
+		It("returns CreditedAs as the contributor name when present, with canonical artist ID", func() {
+			mf := model.MediaFile{
+				ID: "song-1",
+				Participants: model.Participants{
+					model.RoleArtist: model.ParticipantList{
+						{Artist: model.Artist{ID: "canon-1", Name: "Planetary Assault Systems"}, CreditedAs: "PAS"},
+					},
+					model.RoleComposer: model.ParticipantList{
+						{Artist: model.Artist{ID: "canon-2", Name: "Real Composer"}, CreditedAs: "R. Composer"},
+					},
+				},
+			}
+			child := childFromMediaFile(context.Background(), mf)
+			Expect(child.OpenSubsonicChild).NotTo(BeNil())
+			Expect(child.OpenSubsonicChild.Artists).To(HaveLen(1))
+			Expect(child.OpenSubsonicChild.Artists[0].Id).To(Equal("canon-1"))
+			Expect(child.OpenSubsonicChild.Artists[0].Name).To(Equal("PAS"))
+
+			Expect(child.OpenSubsonicChild.Contributors).To(HaveLen(1))
+			Expect(child.OpenSubsonicChild.Contributors[0].Artist.Id).To(Equal("canon-2"))
+			Expect(child.OpenSubsonicChild.Contributors[0].Artist.Name).To(Equal("R. Composer"))
+
+			Expect(child.OpenSubsonicChild.DisplayComposer).To(Equal("R. Composer"))
+		})
+
+		It("falls back to canonical Name when CreditedAs is empty (legacy participant rows)", func() {
+			mf := model.MediaFile{
+				ID: "song-2",
+				Participants: model.Participants{
+					model.RoleArtist: model.ParticipantList{
+						{Artist: model.Artist{ID: "canon-3", Name: "Some Artist"}}, // no CreditedAs
+					},
+				},
+			}
+			child := childFromMediaFile(context.Background(), mf)
+			Expect(child.OpenSubsonicChild).NotTo(BeNil())
+			Expect(child.OpenSubsonicChild.Artists[0].Name).To(Equal("Some Artist"))
+		})
 	})
 
 	Describe("osChildFromMediaFile", func() {

tests/mock_artist_repo.go

@@ -16,9 +16,11 @@ func CreateMockArtistRepo() *MockArtistRepo {
 
 type MockArtistRepo struct {
 	model.ArtistRepository
-	Data    map[string]*model.Artist
+	Data                    map[string]*model.Artist
-	Err     bool
+	Err                     bool
-	Options model.QueryOptions
+	Options                 model.QueryOptions
+	ReassignAnnotationCalls map[string]string // prevID -> newID
+	CopyAttributesCalls     map[string]string // fromID -> toID
 }
 
 func (m *MockArtistRepo) SetError(err bool) {
@@ -157,4 +159,30 @@ func (m *MockArtistRepo) Search(q string, options ...model.QueryOptions) (model.
 	return allArtists, err
 }
 
+// ReassignAnnotation reassigns annotations from one artist to another
+func (m *MockArtistRepo) ReassignAnnotation(prevID string, newID string) error {
+	if m.Err {
+		return errors.New("unexpected error")
+	}
+	// Mock implementation - track the reassignment calls
+	if m.ReassignAnnotationCalls == nil {
+		m.ReassignAnnotationCalls = make(map[string]string)
+	}
+	m.ReassignAnnotationCalls[prevID] = newID
+	return nil
+}
+
+// CopyAttributes is a no-op in the mock; tests that need to verify call
+// observation can extend this.
+func (m *MockArtistRepo) CopyAttributes(fromID, toID string, columns ...string) error {
+	if m.Err {
+		return errors.New("unexpected error")
+	}
+	if m.CopyAttributesCalls == nil {
+		m.CopyAttributesCalls = make(map[string]string)
+	}
+	m.CopyAttributesCalls[fromID] = toID
+	return nil
+}
+
 var _ model.ArtistRepository = (*MockArtistRepo)(nil)

ui/src/common/ArtistLinkField.jsx

@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ const ALink = withWidth()((props) => {
   const artistLink = useGetHandleArtistClick(width)
   const dispatch = useDispatch()
 
+  const displayName = artist.creditedAs || artist.name
+  const showCanonicalTooltip =
+    artist.creditedAs && artist.creditedAs !== artist.name
+
   return (
     <Link
       key={artist.id}
@@ -20,9 +24,10 @@ const ALink = withWidth()((props) => {
         e.stopPropagation()
         dispatch(closeExtendedInfoDialog())
       }}
+      title={showCanonicalTooltip ? artist.name : undefined}
       {...rest}
     >
-      {artist.name}
+      {displayName}
       {artist.subroles?.length > 0 ? ` (${artist.subroles.join(', ')})` : ''}
     </Link>
   )
@@ -37,7 +42,12 @@ const parseAndReplaceArtists = (
   let lastIndex = 0
 
   albumArtists?.forEach((artist) => {
-    const index = displayAlbumArtist.indexOf(artist.name, lastIndex)
+    // Match on the canonical name — that's what appears in displayAlbumArtist
+    // (sourced from mf.Artist / mf.AlbumArtist, which are set from the canonical
+    // ARTIST tag at scan time). The ALink itself renders creditedAs || name,
+    // so the displayed link text still reflects the credit.
+    const matchName = artist.name
+    const index = displayAlbumArtist.indexOf(matchName, lastIndex)
     if (index !== -1) {
       // Add text before the artist name
       if (index > lastIndex) {
@@ -47,7 +57,7 @@ const parseAndReplaceArtists = (
       result.push(
         <ALink artist={artist} className={className} key={artist.id} />,
       )
-      lastIndex = index + artist.name.length
+      lastIndex = index + matchName.length
     }
   })
 

ui/src/common/ArtistLinkField.test.jsx

@@ -213,6 +213,113 @@ describe('ArtistLinkField', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  describe('creditedAs', () => {
+    it('renders creditedAs as the link text when present', () => {
+      const record = {
+        artist: 'PAS',
+        participants: {
+          artist: [
+            {
+              id: 'canon-1',
+              name: 'Planetary Assault Systems',
+              creditedAs: 'PAS',
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+      }
+
+      render(<ArtistLinkField record={record} source="artist" />)
+
+      expect(screen.getByText('PAS')).toBeInTheDocument()
+      expect(
+        screen.queryByText('Planetary Assault Systems'),
+      ).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+    })
+
+    it('sets a title tooltip with the canonical name when creditedAs differs', () => {
+      const record = {
+        artist: 'PAS',
+        participants: {
+          artist: [
+            {
+              id: 'canon-1',
+              name: 'Planetary Assault Systems',
+              creditedAs: 'PAS',
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+      }
+
+      render(<ArtistLinkField record={record} source="artist" />)
+
+      const link = screen.getByRole('link')
+      expect(link).toHaveAttribute('title', 'Planetary Assault Systems')
+    })
+
+    it('falls back to name when creditedAs is missing', () => {
+      const record = {
+        artist: 'Some Artist',
+        participants: {
+          artist: [{ id: 'canon-2', name: 'Some Artist' }],
+        },
+      }
+
+      render(<ArtistLinkField record={record} source="artist" />)
+
+      expect(screen.getByText('Some Artist')).toBeInTheDocument()
+      const link = screen.getByRole('link')
+      expect(link).not.toHaveAttribute('title')
+    })
+
+    it('does not set a tooltip when creditedAs equals name', () => {
+      const record = {
+        artist: 'Same Name',
+        participants: {
+          artist: [
+            { id: 'canon-3', name: 'Same Name', creditedAs: 'Same Name' },
+          ],
+        },
+      }
+
+      render(<ArtistLinkField record={record} source="artist" />)
+
+      const link = screen.getByRole('link')
+      expect(link).not.toHaveAttribute('title')
+    })
+
+    it('inline-linkifies when displayArtist holds the canonical name (Picard-default tagging)', () => {
+      // Picard "use standardized artist names" mode: ARTIST tag carries the
+      // canonical name, ARTIST_CREDIT carries the credit. The display string
+      // is the canonical name; parseAndReplaceArtists must match on `name`
+      // (not `creditedAs`) to embed the link inline. The link text itself
+      // still renders the credit via ALink.
+      const record = {
+        artist: 'Planetary Assault Systems',
+        participants: {
+          artist: [
+            {
+              id: 'canon-1',
+              name: 'Planetary Assault Systems',
+              creditedAs: 'PAS',
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+      }
+
+      render(<ArtistLinkField record={record} source="artist" />)
+
+      const link = screen.getByRole('link')
+      // Link text is the credit, tooltip carries canonical
+      expect(link).toHaveTextContent('PAS')
+      expect(link).toHaveAttribute('title', 'Planetary Assault Systems')
+      // The original canonical string should not appear as raw plain text
+      // (it was replaced by the link)
+      expect(
+        screen.queryByText(/^Planetary Assault Systems$/),
+      ).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+    })
+  })
+
   describe('when limiting displayed artists', () => {
     it('limits the number of artists displayed', () => {
       const record = {