[mb-style] How to handle band/artist name changes

[Lauri Watts]

On 10/4/06, Noa Groveman <easterlingman at gmail.com> wrote:
> This matter is complicated by the fact that many artists intentionally
> release works under different performance names, usually when they are
> legally required to do so (because of a label contract) but sometimes for
> other reasons.  I've always been of the opinion that the name of the MB

There are plenty of artists who are releasing intentionally under
multiple names at the same time.  Most of electronica comes under
this, but also people like Elin Ruth/Elin Sigvardsson who are the same
person, but she uses one name within Sweden and the other outside it.
Actually, a couple of us just fixed up one case where one single album
had four releases in three countries, with three different track
listings, two of which are as a solo album, (artist with backing band)
and two  as belonging to the band.  Likely because while the solo
artist is a superstar at home, he's not well known overseas, so there
wasn't any "goodwill" value releasing specifically under his name.

I wonder if Noa's idea of simply being able to display all performance
names isn't the best one.  Prince for instance, could be separated out
into the different names he's used, depending on what's on the cover,
and all linked with "Performed as..." AR's, covering the appropriate
dates.  That takes someone very familiar with the artist in question's
discography, not just to do the initial breaking up, but to stay on
top of new additions and attempts to

Basically it's easy enough to capture the data already, but it's
probably not being displayed in the optimal manner.

Regards,
-- 
Lauri Watts.