[mb-users] Re: Legal names and performance names

[Chris B]

On 05/07/07, Jonne Lahti <jonne.lahti at netikka.fi> wrote:
> Joan Whittaker wrote:
> > You must always use the name on the cover.
> >
> I mostly agree, but am now going to ask one question that I've been
> wondering for the time I've been in MusicBrainz(I'm pretty new, but I
> think I have the basic knowledge): Almost everything by
> Foetus(Performance name for J. G. Thirlwell,
> http://musicbrainz.org/artist/934c6bbc-3fc4-4d4a-9280-f02856da0e12.html)
> is listed - Surprise surprise - under Foetus. Now, before the
> mid-nineties, he didn't settle for just 'Foetus', but usually used an
> alias that included 'Foetus', such as 'Foetus Under Glass', 'You've Got
> Foetus On Your Breath' or 'Scraping Foetus Off the Wheel'. All these
> releases are, however, listed under Foetus. I've actually refrained from
> tagging my most of my Foetus with Picard and keeping the original names.
> Should the Foetus entry be divided into a bunch of different Foetuses,
> or is there a specific reason why they're all under Foetus?

there is no specific reason for either splitting or combining them.
there is nothing in the guidelines to say what situations require a
split and which require a merge, and there's a reason for this - it
depends on the situation. just use your judgement and justify it in
the edit notes if you choose to split them.

there are absolutely situations where it makes perfect sense to most
users to merge inconsequential names. what really doesn't help is when
people go out of their way to apply their own interpretations on
artists they don't know. example:
http://musicbrainz.org/show/edit/?editid=6931348 :/