• Registered: 2012-06-21

Topic: Dexys / Dexys Midnight Runners

Similar to my previous post regarding Emilia / Emilia Mitiku, the band Dexys Midnight Runners recently returned after a 20-odd year break with a new album, but under the shortened name "Dexys".  One of my colleagues has set up Dexys as a new artist, but they're not yet related to the other band:

http://musicbrainz.org/artist/2914acee- … 1abf0fa346

What would be the correct way to note this relationship, or should it have been done in a different way?

Thanks again,

Dave (BBC)

  • Registered: 2008-04-25

Re: Dexys / Dexys Midnight Runners

The guideline for artists with multiple names states that when a group changes its name and keeps using it, the extent of the name change should decide whether a new artist is appropriate. In this case, I think the change is quite big (they dropped two-thirds of their name), so I'd go with a new artist. Their Wikipedia page mentions "a new six-piece incarnation of the group", which indicates that the line-up has changed as well.

mfmeulenbelt's Website

  • From: Singapore
  • Registered: 2007-02-13

Re: Dexys / Dexys Midnight Runners

That guideline predates artist credits and NGS, so I don't think it should be taken too literally. It desperately needs updating. With artist credits we can retain the original crediting while keeping the listing together; the best of both worlds somewhat.

The change in composition/style of the group is more important here, but I'm still somewhat inclined to merge and retain artist credits...

voiceinsideyou's Website

  • From: Tartu, EE
  • Registered: 2010-11-24

Re: Dexys / Dexys Midnight Runners

I'd keep them together too

  • Registered: 2012-01-23

Re: Dexys / Dexys Midnight Runners

This is an issue that comes up a lot. i.e.

Chipmunk --> Chip
Cheryl Cole --> Cheryl

I'd love to know the "right" way to do this, for artists who have permanently (well, to the extent that this is knowable) changed their names.

  • From: Singapore
  • Registered: 2007-02-13

Re: Dexys / Dexys Midnight Runners

The "right" way to do this if a group has not fundamentally changed in structure/purpose/genre at same time as name change is to change the artist name in MB to the most "current" or widely accepted artist name; but without updating artist credits. Releases under the older name can retain that name in their artist credits and newer releases can use the new name.

Here's an example of a group that change its name Shihad -> Pacifier -> Shihad. Note the "artist" column changing through time :)
http://musicbrainz.org/artist/0c98815e- … fe0dff548a

For individuals who change between a legal name and a performance name, it's a bit more difficult sometimes as often performance names are separate artists to individual names. I'd say in the case of Cheryl Cole though, it'd be nicer to have all her music under one artist with credits than have it split up.

voiceinsideyou's Website

  • Registered: 2012-01-23

Re: Dexys / Dexys Midnight Runners

OK. So in the case of Chipmunk, I've done it wrong by adding a new artist called Chip, who has a relationship to the legal name Jahmaal Flyffe (just as Chipmunk does).

Would the recommendation in this case be to remove this separate artist (Chip), and change Chipmunk's name to Chip, but retain the prior artist credits?

  • From: Tartu, EE
  • Registered: 2010-11-24

Re: Dexys / Dexys Midnight Runners

You could just merge Chipmunk into Chip without merging artist credits I guess - should give the same result.

  • Registered: 2012-01-23

Re: Dexys / Dexys Midnight Runners

If I merge Chipmunk into Chip, will searches for Chipmunk still get a result?

And I suppose this is sort of the nub of my question - why are there two ways to do the same thing?

  • From: Singapore
  • Registered: 2007-02-13

Re: Dexys / Dexys Midnight Runners

Yes, searches are supposed to work across artist aliases.

Technically it's a slightly different result. A different MBID is retained as the "primary" one. There should be a weak preference for retaining the older/existing one as primary; reduces change in people's files if they are re-tagging.

A merge, by definition, can be done in either direction so there's always going to to be two ways to directions to do the merge. Or perhaps I misunderstand your question?

voiceinsideyou's Website