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

[Age Bosma]

Hi,

Based on the responses I think we can draw the following conclusions:
1. Releases have to be filed under the artist name it was releases under.
2. If, what could be considered, the same release was released under
different artist names, with or without a different track listing, each
release should be filed separately under the different artist names.
3. An AdvancedRelationship should be used to link the individual artist
names together.

We currently have the 'performs as' relationship but this one is meant
to only be used to create a 'legal name - performance name' relationship
link. We could introduce a new AR solely for the purpose of a name
change relation but this would leave us with two separate but similar
relations. Because of this I suggest we change/extend the purpose of the
already available 'performs as' relationship.

The current 'performs as' relationship allows us to provide a begin and
end date and has the link phrases:
1. '*artist* is a performance name for the person *artist*'
2. '*artist* performs as *artist*'

I would like to change this to 'is/was performing under the name' with
the link phrases:
1. '*artist* is/was a performance name used by *artist*'
2. '*artist* is/was performing under the name *artist*'
With a 'legal name' attribute to indicate a 'legal name - performance
name' relation. When used it would result in phrase 1 becoming:
'*artist* is/was a performance name used by the legal person's name
*artist*'

This offers us the following:
1. To indicate a 'legal name - performance name' relation, you use the
AR with the 'legal name' attribute.
2. When an artist uses multiple names to release releases under, a
general (performance) name has to be chosen to link all the other artist
names to.
3. When an artist changed his name, the latest name is the one to link
all the other artist names to.
4. The start and end dates should be used when needed. E.g.:
- In case of a name change to indicate in which period a name was used
- When the artist uses multiple names you can optionally provide a start
date when the artist first started using it

Imo this catches all possible situations. It should be recommended
practise to work from a (general) performance name perspective.
In the extreme case of Prince you would create 4 relations resulting in:
*Prince Rogers Nelson*
- 'is/was performing under the name Prince from X1 until Y1'
- 'is/was performing under the name T.A.F.K.A.P. from X2 until Y2'
- 'is/was performing under the name Prince from X3 until present'

*Prince*
- 'is/was a performance name used by the legal person's name Prince
Rogers Nelson from X1 until Y1'
- 'is/was performing under the name T.A.F.K.A.P. from X2 until Y2'
- 'is/was a performance name used by the legal person's name Prince
Rogers Nelson from X3 until present'

*T.A.F.K.A.P.*
- 'is/was a performance name used by the legal person's name Prince
Rogers Nelson from X2 until Y2'
- 'is/was a performance name used by Prince from X2 until Y2'


The exact phrases to be used might need some additional attention. I'm 
not a language expert and I'm not too good at word juggling so any 
suggestions are welcome ;-)

When changing the purpose of the current 'performs as' relationship, all 
'performs as' relationships that are in the db now have to be changed to 
get the 'legal name' attribute checked. I think, or at least hope, that 
this is possible by a simple db script.

The addressing of the tagging issue is imo a different matter which, 
like the displaying of all releases under a general name, unfortunately 
can't be handled at this stage. The question is if it should stand in 
the way of getting the info in at least the MB db more correct.
It would require much more changes, which should be addressed by the NGS 
and in Picard by being able to handle ARs.
The tagging under a specific name is already an issue but I don't think 
it will get that much worse with the proposed changes mention above.

Yours,

Age (Prodoc)