Music file metadata corrupted?

Question

Music file metadata corrupted?

Running Big Sur 11.7.2 on 2017 iMac (18,3). I have ~100GB of owned music files stored on an external drive. Previously, I managed this library on a PC, including making selective tweaks to the metadata on MP3 files.

I'm now using Mac as my daily driver and I'd like to manage my collection in Apple Music, but when I Get Info for a music file in Finder, it's showing totally wrong metadata.

For example:

Filename:

02 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.mp3

Artwork:

[Merry Christmas - Andy Williams album cover]

Plays as:

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Andy Williams (3:24)

In Finder

Get Info (more info):

Title: Derelict

Duration: 04:13

Authors: Beck

Audio channels: Stereo

Sample rate: 44.1 kHz

Album: Odelay

Musical genre: '90s Alternative

Year recorded: 2004

This is true for all the tracks in my collection, so I'm wondering what happened to the correct metadata, and also concerned that Apple Music will show/index the bad metadata if I import into the app.

Anyone have insight or a fix for this?

Thanks, in advance.

Posted on Jan 6, 2023 09:25 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan 6, 2023 01:36 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for the quick reply! Here are the answers:

All the tracks are all wrong, but in different ways

Mostly, it seems that Finder has confused the "More Info" for some other track on a different album. The data clearly conflicts with the folder/album/track reflected in the filename (and audio). Searching for tracks in Finder finds the wrong tracks (as if the metadata were correct).

Copying the file and putting in "Automatically Add to Music"

Music added this way is correctly cataloged by Apple Music. That is, the correct data appears within the app (it matches the track that's playing).

Weird additional data point

After adding the files to Apple Music, those music files show up in Finder with the correct "More Info" metadata. But the original version - with the wrong metadata - shows up, as well. And the file that is associated with the erroneous data keeps switching.

It's like Finder is totally confused about what data matches which files, and keeps changing its mind. 🤪

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

277,729 points

Jan 6, 2023 09:45 AM in response to rivercitytunester

When you say it is all tracks, all are wrong? Or all have the same metadata? Is the metadata correct on another computer, or a device? If you make a copy of this file and place it in the Automatically Add to Music folder inside your media folder where does it show in the library and with what set of details?

tt2

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

277,729 points

Jan 6, 2023 01:52 PM in response to rivercitytunester

Oh. That sounds niche. Finder isn't really my area, but perhaps you need to Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support.

tt2

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Music file metadata corrupted?

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