Last.fm Scrobbler: Preventing 'feat.' Removal

by Alex Johnson 46 views

Have you ever noticed that the Last.fm scrobbler plugin mysteriously removes the "feat." portion of a track's title? It can be frustrating, especially when you want your scrobbles to accurately reflect the music you're listening to. Let's dive into why this happens and, more importantly, how to fix it.

Understanding the Issue

The Last.fm scrobbler plugin is designed to automatically submit the songs you listen to, to your Last.fm profile. This process, known as scrobbling, helps you keep track of your listening habits and discover new music based on your taste. However, the plugin sometimes applies certain formatting rules to the track titles before submitting them.

One of these rules often involves removing the "feat." (featuring) part of the title. The developers likely implemented this to standardize track titles and consolidate scrobbles of the same song under a single entry, regardless of whether the "feat." artist is included. While this might seem helpful in some cases, it can be annoying if you prefer the full track title to be displayed.

Unfortunately, there isn't a straightforward setting within the Last.fm scrobbler plugin to disable this behavior. The removal of "feat." is often hard-coded or based on a set of rules within the plugin's code. This means that simply toggling an option in the settings won't solve the problem. Instead, you'll need to explore alternative solutions.

Solutions to Prevent 'feat.' Removal

1. Using a Different Scrobbler

One of the easiest solutions is to switch to a different scrobbling application or plugin. Several alternatives are available that offer more customization options and don't automatically remove the "feat." portion of track titles. Here are a few popular choices:

  • foobar2000 with the official Last.fm plugin: foobar2000 is a highly customizable music player that supports various plugins. The official Last.fm plugin for foobar2000 is known for its accuracy and reliability, and it typically scrobbles track titles exactly as they appear in your music library.
  • Web Scrobbler: Web Scrobbler is a browser extension that can scrobble music from various websites, including YouTube, Spotify, and SoundCloud. It's a versatile option if you listen to music from multiple sources. Ensure you configure it to scrobble the full track title.
  • Pano Scrobbler (Android): If you primarily listen to music on your Android device, Pano Scrobbler is an excellent choice. It supports various music players and offers extensive customization options, including the ability to preserve the "feat." portion of track titles.

By switching to one of these alternative scrobblers, you can avoid the automatic removal of "feat." and ensure that your scrobbles accurately reflect the music you're listening to.

2. Editing Track Titles

If switching scrobblers isn't an option, you can manually edit the track titles in your music library to prevent the plugin from removing "feat.". This involves a bit more effort but can be effective, especially if you only have a few tracks with this issue.

  • Replace "feat." with an alternative: Instead of "feat.", use a different abbreviation or word that the plugin won't recognize and remove. For example, you could use "ft.", "featuring", or simply include the artist's name in parentheses.
  • Add the featured artist to the artist field: Some music players and scrobblers combine the track title and artist fields to generate the scrobble. By adding the featured artist to the artist field, you can ensure that their name appears in your scrobble without being removed from the title.

3. Modifying the Plugin (Advanced)

For advanced users, modifying the plugin's code is another option. This approach requires technical knowledge and familiarity with programming. However, it allows you to directly alter the plugin's behavior and prevent it from removing "feat.".

  • Locate the relevant code: Identify the section of the plugin's code responsible for removing "feat." from track titles. This may involve searching for regular expressions or string manipulation functions that target "feat.".
  • Modify or remove the code: Once you've found the relevant code, you can either modify it to preserve "feat." or remove it altogether. Be careful when making changes to the plugin's code, as incorrect modifications can cause it to malfunction.
  • Recompile the plugin: After making the necessary changes, you'll need to recompile the plugin for the changes to take effect. This usually involves using a software development kit (SDK) or compiler specific to the plugin's platform.

Step-by-Step Guide to Editing Track Titles

Let's break down how to manually edit track titles, a practical workaround to prevent the Last.fm scrobbler from stripping out the 'feat.' information. This method is particularly useful if you're not keen on switching to a different scrobbler or diving into code modifications. It's a straightforward, hands-on approach to maintaining the integrity of your track titles.

  1. Identify the Affected Tracks: Begin by pinpointing the tracks in your music library where the 'feat.' tag is being removed during scrobbling. These are the songs you'll need to manually adjust. Make a list or keep a mental note of these tracks for easy access.
  2. Open Your Music Library: Access your digital music library through your preferred music player or file management system. This could be iTunes, Windows Media Player, foobar2000, or any other software you use to organize and play your music.
  3. Edit Track Information: For each affected track, locate the option to edit its metadata or track information. This is usually found by right-clicking on the track and selecting 'Edit Info,' 'Properties,' or a similar option. A window or dialog box will appear, displaying various fields such as title, artist, album, and more.
  4. Modify the Track Title: In the track title field, carefully replace 'feat.' with an alternative that the Last.fm scrobbler won't recognize and remove. Here are a few suggestions:
    • Use 'ft.' as a shortened version of 'featuring.'
    • Spell out the word completely: 'featuring.'
    • Use parentheses to include the featured artist: '(feat. Artist Name).'
    • Incorporate the featured artist's name directly into the title, separated by a hyphen or another delimiter.
  5. Add to Artist Field (Optional): In addition to modifying the track title, consider adding the featured artist's name to the artist field. This ensures that the featured artist is properly credited in your scrobbles, even if the title is altered.
  6. Save Changes: Once you've made the necessary modifications, save the changes to the track information. This will update the track's metadata within your music library.
  7. Verify the Scrobble: Play the modified track and check your Last.fm profile to ensure that the scrobble appears correctly, with the 'feat.' information preserved. If the issue persists, try a different modification or explore other solutions.

Choosing the Right Solution

The best solution for preventing the Last.fm scrobbler from removing "feat." depends on your technical skills, preferences, and the number of tracks affected. If you're comfortable switching scrobblers, that's often the easiest and most effective approach. Manually editing track titles is a good option if you only have a few tracks to fix. Modifying the plugin's code is the most complex solution but offers the most control.

By understanding why the Last.fm scrobbler removes "feat." and exploring the available solutions, you can ensure that your scrobbles accurately reflect the music you're listening to. Whether you choose to switch scrobblers, edit track titles, or modify the plugin's code, you can reclaim control over your Last.fm experience and enjoy accurate and complete scrobbles.

Happy scrobbling!

To gain further insight, check out Last.fm's official documentation.