All local file-based tagging is indeed done at the track level, but the online databases that Plex (used to) work with like Last.fm and Musicbrainz have album- and artist-based metadata, so Plex at some point made the decision to store certain things on the album or artist level (like “Mood” which doesn’t even exist as a local tag at all).
From a more technical database design point of view, it is also easier/quicker for performance and query complexity to structure the db with an Album table, instead of grouping tracks by album every time the app runs a query. It’s a simplification that introduces lots of limitations and bugs though…as you need to keep the information in that album table consistent with the tracks table.
With respect to popular music, and notwithstanding R&B/Rap/Hip-Hop, just about everything with a back beat to it that came after the hey days of traditional and vocal pop is considered “Pop/Rock.” All Music’s approach is accurate. It just differs from most people’s perception/understanding.
That said, and adding to the confusion, there’s also is a “style” under the “Pop/Rock” genre that’s called “Pop Rock.” An example would be Carole King’s Grammy winning album titled “Tapestry.”
Yup. Slayer is indeed of the Pop/Rock genre, but in the style of Heavy Metal. Just as Stanley Clarke’s album titled “School Days” is “Jazz,” but in the style of “Fusion.”
I know. It can be counter-intuitive. It took me years to wrap my head around it. But after exploring and researching the history of popular music, it now makes perfect sense. Your mileage may vary.
Note: This is not to suggest that all of the tags on AllMusic are accurate. Music is subjective and personal, so “accuracy” is an elusive thing. That’s why I default to embedded metadata tags and opt not to use PLEX’s 3rd-party flavor of the day.
Noticed this change when reinstalled my server lately. Gracenote was much more accurate. I listen lots of Black Metal so Pop/Rock does not make sense. With 10 000 artists in the library, 90% is Pop/Rock. How the hell I am supposed to listen the genre I want? Bad, bad update.
Like many others, I have moved to embedded metadata and Last.fm, since they are perfect. Why default something that just does not work? Last.fm is perfect and polished with its metadata for almost 20 years now, I wonder why Plex doesn’t use it as base.
My god this change to allmusic genres was beyond awful.
I have almost 10k albums in my library. All of a sudden 90% of them are now pop/rock albums.
Sorry @dmCurator, I respect if you think that their approach is accurate. But some of us don’t, and we could very well use an alternative here (like gracenote or last.fm). Its really annoying to have artists like Converge and Dillinger Escape Plan under the pop/rock genre, even if you got their actual genres on their “styles” column.
I tag my own and only use my embedded tags in PLEX.
The All Music system is consistent with music industry standards, but it doesn’t work for me, either. I switched to embedded tags a long time ago.
I’m so committed to my tags that I haven’t updated my server version in over a year. I don’t want to risk my library getting screwed up. I finally got it where I want it.
