Style/Principle/Error correction and artist intent: Difference between revisions

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As a general rule, MusicBrainz editors should correct spelling and punctuation and, to a lesser extent, grammar errors in [[Artist_Name|artists' names]], as well as the [[Style/Titles|titles]] of [[Work|works,]] [[Recording|recordings,]] [[Track|tracks]] and [[Release|releases]]. However, this rule does '''not''' apply if it can be shown that an [[Artist|artist]] intentionally used unorthodox spelling, punctuation or grammar.


==Error Correction==
Artist intent describes whether an artist intended the [[Artist Name|ArtistName]], [[Release Title|ReleaseTitle]] or [[Track Title|TrackTitle]] to contradict the language they're in (e.g. spelling errors) or state something that would contradict the [[Style Guideline|StyleGuideline]]<code><nowiki></nowiki></code>s.


There are many cases of record companies incorrectly reproducing titles or even artist names, or breaking generally accepted rules of usage for stylistic purposes. In such cases it often makes sense to fix errors and standardize irregularities, valuing correct spelling, punctuation and grammar over faithfulness to the printed release cover.
Artist intent is a very fundamental concept, however, it is not clearly defined at all. The general idea (as stated in the [[Style Principle|StylePrinciple]]<code><nowiki></nowiki></code>s) is that, if an [[Artist|artist]] intended something to be written in a very special way, then [[MusicBrainz]] should follow this intent. Unfortunately it is very difficult to find out what an artist intended. [[Artist Intent Vs Facts|ArtistIntentVsFacts]] discusses this problem in more detail.


===Examples===
If you want to claim that some deviation of the [[Official Style Guideline|OfficialStyleGuideline]]<code><nowiki></nowiki></code>s should be considered artist intent, the burden of proof lies upon you. You are encouraged to discuss the issue on the [[Users Mailing List|UsersMailingList]].


* [[release:5c7a551d-172f-41cc-8c45-001fe4c2a8df|"State of Mind"]] by [[artist:b847e9d2-c931-4daf-900c-42c7b2c42e16|Front Line Assembly]] (artist name misspelled on cover and CD)
==Agreed Upon Artist Names==
* [[release:d6213baf-e959-4817-9fa2-3ce97f131678|"The Beatles"]] (inconsistent capitalization of track titles on gatefold interior)
* [[release:15ff481d-0857-46d3-94ce-eee09c36f4bc|"EPs 1988-1991"]] by [[artist:8ca01f46-53ac-4af2-8516-55a909c0905e|My Bloody Valentine]] (incorrect apostrophe in release title on spine)


==Artist Intent==
The [[MusicBrainz]] community has agreed that the following [[Artist Name|ArtistName]]<code><nowiki></nowiki></code>s are considered to be styled this way according to the artist's intent:
* [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/5579a23d-c411-4930-987d-ff89d77c1c12.html 2raumwohnung] (all lowercase)
* [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/675c1c5e-5625-4a5e-97a2-b02aab5db2fc.html k.d. lang] (all lowercase)
* [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/7364dea6-ca9a-48e3-be01-b44ad0d19897.html a-ha] (all lowercase)
* [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/ef6e2e49-aa93-41bd-89b0-8c7d2f260a83.html lostprophets] (all lowercase)


Artists sometimes choose to present names and titles in ways that deliberately contradict the rules of the language they're in (e.g. unorthodox spellings) and/or the MusicBrainz [[Style|Style Guidelines]]. To describe the way we handle such choices, we use the term "artist intent." The general idea is that if an artist intended something to be written in a special way, then MusicBrainz should follow that intent.
==Discussion==


Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find out what an artist intended. If you want to claim that some deviation from the Style Guidelines should be considered artist intent, the burden of proof lies on you. A seeming error may be considered evidence of artist intent if it is consistently found on all of an artist's official releases. The best evidence would be a statement of intent by the artist (e.g. [[edit:6892422|edit 6892422]]).
Artist Intent is one of the most powerful arguments we have here so I think we need to define when exactly it applies. In many cases we're claiming "Artist Intent" based solely off an album cover or artist's official page, I know I do it all the time. But this leads to alot of people going against capitalization guidelines because the font on the CD cover doesn't use capitals anywhere, or vice versa. I think we all need to remember that as the most powerful argument in an edit, Artist Intent should be the one requireing the most proof. In many situations the artist intent is obvious such as Linkin Park's [http://musicbrainz.org/album/649e374f-2874-42f7-88a7-3eea4b8c25b8.html Reanimation] but we have to differentiate actual Artist Intent from a web or CD cover designer that thinks a certain font "looks cool". --[[User:Kerensky97|Kerensky97]]


Words in Latin script used in Japanese releases present a special case and are generally treated as artist intent; see the [[Style/Language/Japanese|Japanese style guidelines]] for more information.
[[Category:To Be Reviewed]] [[Category:Philosophy]] [[Category:Discussion]]

===Examples===

* [[artist:5579a23d-c411-4930-987d-ff89d77c1c12|2raumwohnung]], [[artist:7364dea6-ca9a-48e3-be01-b44ad0d19897|a‐ha]] and [[artist:675c1c5e-5625-4a5e-97a2-b02aab5db2fc|k.d. lang]] (artist names in all lowercase)
* [[artist:eeb1195b-f213-4ce1-b28c-8565211f8e43|Guns N' Roses]] (artist name spelled with N' instead of 'n')
* [[artist:f5248869-2609-43db-8234-3065e11f1e1a|locomotor ataxia]] (all lowercase for artist name, release titles and track titles)
* [[release:92b36219-760b-4f32-94f7-4e323e6d431d|eMOTIVe]] (unusual capitalization of release title)
* [[work:6b275557-c755-4bed-8735-70dff76a03a1|"Use ta Be My Girl"]] and [[work:4387e237-03c5-3d59-a602-0ba90d41f900|"Yer Blues"]] (unorthodox spellings in work titles)


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[[Category:WikiDocs Page]]

Revision as of 22:54, 30 April 2014

As a general rule, MusicBrainz editors should correct spelling and punctuation and, to a lesser extent, grammar errors in artists' names, as well as the titles of works, recordings, tracks and releases. However, this rule does not apply if it can be shown that an artist intentionally used unorthodox spelling, punctuation or grammar.

Error Correction

There are many cases of record companies incorrectly reproducing titles or even artist names, or breaking generally accepted rules of usage for stylistic purposes. In such cases it often makes sense to fix errors and standardize irregularities, valuing correct spelling, punctuation and grammar over faithfulness to the printed release cover.

Examples

Artist Intent

Artists sometimes choose to present names and titles in ways that deliberately contradict the rules of the language they're in (e.g. unorthodox spellings) and/or the MusicBrainz Style Guidelines. To describe the way we handle such choices, we use the term "artist intent." The general idea is that if an artist intended something to be written in a special way, then MusicBrainz should follow that intent.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find out what an artist intended. If you want to claim that some deviation from the Style Guidelines should be considered artist intent, the burden of proof lies on you. A seeming error may be considered evidence of artist intent if it is consistently found on all of an artist's official releases. The best evidence would be a statement of intent by the artist (e.g. edit 6892422).

Words in Latin script used in Japanese releases present a special case and are generally treated as artist intent; see the Japanese style guidelines for more information.

Examples


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