Compilation Tracks not searchable by Artist

The sad truth.

We just have to hope the fix is not into the GUI but it is in the device software which was not updated I guess (this was only a GUI fix I think).

Hello Mike,

Sonos reads the metadata directly from the track- which is how it is encoded. If you are unable to search for the artist and it show the compilation album, it may be that the metadata is not properly encoded to place the track in that area. 

You can manually alter/verify the metadata yourself via popular third party software. This will then place the songs in their desired sections. You could consider: MediaMonkey, VLC...etc

We can also take a look with you to see to verify this information with you if you'd like. You can give us a call when you have the time to troubleshoot. 


I am using a Samsung Note 10.1 running Android OS 4.4.2 and Sonos app version 5.3 and the issue I initially reported is now resolved. That is if I search for the artist Paloma Faith it now shows me both her individual album as well as the track she sings on Now 87. Result!

I am using a Samsung Note 10.1 running Android OS 4.4.2 and Sonos app version 5.3 and the issue I initially reported is now resolved. That is if I search for the artist Paloma Faith it now shows me both her individual album as well as the track she sings on Now 87. Result! It also works on the CR100 controller.

I am using a Samsung Note 10.1 running Android OS 4.4.2 and Sonos app version 5.3 and the issue I initially reported is now resolved. That is if I search for the artist Paloma Faith it now shows me both her individual album as well as the track she sings on Now 87. Result! It also works on the CR100 controller.
Mike, go to Now 87. Next to the song does it tell you who it's by? No. That's the issue - you can have one or the.other.

Stephen, with all due respect, the issue i reported when I started this thread - note the title - was that i couldn't locate tracks by a specific artist using the search facility. This issue has been resolved as i can now do exactly that. Your requirement of listing the artist next to the track name is not the issue i raised. I too would like to see the actual artist listed, particularly as nowadays it seems to be commonplace for albums to include other contributing artists on some tracks. This information is clearly available as when the track is playing the artist's name is displayed. I believe your issue should be a separate thread.

That issue does have a separate thread:
https://ask.sonos.com/sonos/topics/show_track_artist_when_viewing_the_tracks_in_compilation_album
(and some others, mentioned in the right column on that page)

Stephen, with all due respect, the issue i reported when I started this thread - note the title - was that i couldn't locate tracks by a specific artist using the search facility. This issue has been resolved as i can now do exactly that. Your requirement of listing the artist next to the track name is not the issue i raised. I too would like to see the actual artist listed, particularly as nowadays it seems to be commonplace for albums to include other contributing artists on some tracks. This information is clearly available as when the track is playing the artist's name is displayed. I believe your issue should be a separate thread.
Mike, with all due respect the issues are linked. You have always been able to do what you said you couldn't do - it hasn't just been fixed at all. I can only say that when you couldn't do the search for artists on compilation albums you had the controller set to group by itunes compilation. If you do that you can't search. If you don't group by compilations you can search - but no longer see contributing artists listed against the track. Zero change in functionality in this or any recent release as far as your issue goes. Because Sonos themselves don't seem to even understand the issue it's little wonder there appear to be so many threads about basically the same thing - it's very poorly managed. For info, try it and you'll see. Change the sorting and try searching again.

I have 4.3 on Android 444. If I search for "pink" hoping to find an album where artist is "various artists" and contributing artist is "pink", the track is not found. So for me this problem seems not to be fixed as well. Camillo

Stephen, with all due respect, the issue i reported when I started this thread - note the title - was that i couldn't locate tracks by a specific artist using the search facility. This issue has been resolved as i can now do exactly that. Your requirement of listing the artist next to the track name is not the issue i raised. I too would like to see the actual artist listed, particularly as nowadays it seems to be commonplace for albums to include other contributing artists on some tracks. This information is clearly available as when the track is playing the artist's name is displayed. I believe your issue should be a separate thread.
agree with Stephen (still not possible to search artist songs from artist name in compilations albums when group by compilations) nothing improved....