Music is all lumped into one album named "Various Artists"

00sivan · October 5, 2022, 12:37am

Server Version#: 1.29.1.6260
Player Version#: N/A

Added music, tried last.fm and tried Plex for metadata but in both cases all the music goes into a single album under Various Artists.

plexethememusic Log has this error, which appears to also be in lastfm log and other logs:

2022-09-30 23:57:14,304 (7f8de5d49808) :  ERROR (networking:196) - Error opening URL 'http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/plugins/com.plexapp.system/resourceHashes'
2022-09-30 23:57:14,307 (7f8de5d49808) :  CRITICAL (runtime:1299) - Exception getting hosted resource hashes (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-420892357/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/runtime.py", line 1293, in get_resource_hashes
    json = self._core.networking.http_request("http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/plugins/com.plexapp.system/resourceHashes", timeout=10).content
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-420892357/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 242, in content
    return self.__str__()
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-420892357/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 220, in __str__
    self.load()
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-420892357/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 158, in load
    f = self._opener.open(req, timeout=self._timeout)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 435, in open
    response = meth(req, response)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 548, in http_response
    'http', request, response, code, msg, hdrs)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 473, in error
    return self._call_chain(*args)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 407, in _call_chain
    result = func(*args)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 556, in http_error_default
    raise HTTPError(req.get_full_url(), code, msg, hdrs, fp)
HTTPError: HTTP Error 404: Not Found

It does appear that Plex is listening on that port:

~$ sudo lsof -i -P -n | grep 32400
Plex\x20M   752            plex   10u  IPv6  28039      0t0  TCP *:32400 (LISTEN)
Plex\x20M   752            plex   88u  IPv6 325965      0t0  TCP 192.168.12.246:32400->192.168.12.240:63886 (ESTABLISHED)

Here is the end of the system log:

2022-10-04 17:25:50,246 (7f6c8eab8b38) :  ERROR (networking:196) - Error opening URL 'http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/plugins/com.plexapp.agents.localmedia/messaging/function/X0FnZW50S2l0OlVwZGF0ZU1ldGFkYXRh/Y2VyZWFsMQoxCmxpc3QKMApyMAo_/Y2VyZWFsMQoxCmRpY3QKMTAKczIKeHhzNApsYW5nYjFzNQpmb3JjZWIwczgKcGVyaW9kaWNzNQoxMDczNHM0CmRiaWRpMApzNwp2ZXJzaW9ubnMxMApwYXJlbnRHVUlEbnM4CnBhcmVudElEczYKQXJ0aXN0czEwCm1lZGlhX3R5cGVzMzgKcGxleDovL2FydGlzdC81ZWRjNjgwYmM1ZTY0ZmNjMTAxMTViMWZzNApndWlkczQKbnVsbHMyCmlkcjAK'
2022-10-04 17:25:50,254 (7f6c8eadbb38) :  INFO (agentservice:586) - Metadata preparation for plex://artist/5edc680bc5e64fcc10115b1f complete
2022-10-04 17:25:50,255 (7f6c8e55bb38) :  INFO (agentservice:767) - Bundle with guid plex://artist/5edc680bc5e64fcc10115b1f has been updated - notifying the media server
2022-10-04 17:25:50,255 (7f6c8eadbb38) :  DEBUG (runtime:1117) - Created a thread named 'notify_thread'
2022-10-04 17:25:50,256 (7f6c8eadbb38) :  DEBUG (agentservice:625) - Removing plex://artist/5edc680bc5e64fcc10115b1f from the update list
2022-10-04 17:25:50,257 (7f6c8e55bb38) :  DEBUG (networking:143) - Requesting 'http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/metadata/notify?guid=plex%3A%2F%2Fartist%2F5edc680bc5e64fcc10115b1f&path=Artists%2F2%2Fe5850a1cc45a45c4a7bee1e5cc6ed2355cbe35d.bundle&force=1&queueSize=0&id=10734&success=1&async=1'
2022-10-04 17:25:50,257 (7f6c8eadbb38) :  DEBUG (agentservice:638) - Releasing GUID mutex for plex://artist/5edc680bc5e64fcc10115b1f
2022-10-04 17:25:50,258 (7f6c8eadbb38) :  DEBUG (agentservice:644) - We're done with the mutex for plex://artist/5edc680bc5e64fcc10115b1f
2022-10-04 17:25:50,324 (7f6c8eab8b38) :  CRITICAL (runtime:298) - Exception in task thread (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-420892357/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/runtime.py", line 296, in _start
    obj._exec()
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-420892357/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/runtime.py", line 243, in _exec
    self._result = self._f(*self._args, **self._kwargs)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-420892357/System.bundle/Contents/Code/agentservice.py", line 1294, in agent_update_metadata
    kwargs=kwargs
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-420892357/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/messaging.py", line 86, in call_external_function
    packed_result = self._core.networking.http_request(url, cacheTime=0, timeout=None, immediate=True).content
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-420892357/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 346, in http_request
    return HTTPRequest(self._core, url, data, h, url_cache, encoding, errors, timeout, immediate, sleep, opener, follow_redirects, method)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-420892357/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 118, in __init__
    self.load()
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-420892357/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 158, in load
    f = self._opener.open(req, timeout=self._timeout)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 435, in open
    response = meth(req, response)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 548, in http_response
    'http', request, response, code, msg, hdrs)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 473, in error
    return self._call_chain(*args)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 407, in _call_chain
    result = func(*args)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 556, in http_error_default
    raise HTTPError(req.get_full_url(), code, msg, hdrs, fp)
HTTPError: HTTP Error 500: Internal Server Error

2022-10-04 18:10:09,853 (7f6c8e55bb38) :  DEBUG (runtime:717) - Handling request GET /system/:/prefs
2022-10-04 18:10:09,855 (7f6c8e55bb38) :  DEBUG (runtime:814) - Found route matching /system/:/prefs
2022-10-04 18:10:09,857 (7f6c8e55bb38) :  DEBUG (runtime:88) - Sending packed state data (99 bytes)
2022-10-04 18:10:09,858 (7f6c8e55bb38) :  DEBUG (runtime:924) - Response: [200] MediaContainer, 418 bytes
2022-10-04 18:15:07,316 (7f6c8e55bb38) :  DEBUG (runtime:717) - Handling request GET /system/:/prefs
2022-10-04 18:15:07,341 (7f6c8e55bb38) :  DEBUG (runtime:814) - Found route matching /system/:/prefs
2022-10-04 18:15:07,343 (7f6c8e55bb38) :  DEBUG (runtime:88) - Sending packed state data (99 bytes)
2022-10-04 18:15:07,343 (7f6c8e55bb38) :  DEBUG (runtime:924) - Response: [200] MediaContainer, 418 bytes

nibbles · October 5, 2022, 2:43am

The snip of com.plexapp.system.log is a non-issue.
The snip of Plex Media Server.log doesn’t look good, but it’s hard to say without seeing the whole thing. Let move cover a couple of things in case you’re new to music on Plex.

For Plex Music scanner to match your tracks to the online database, one thing is critical and the other is really really useful.

First is the plex Naming Your TV Shows scheme. You pretty much should follow it exactly. You can find that in the Plex Website articles.

Second is tagging your files in an app called Picard from a place called Musicbrainz. Because Plex checks Musicbrainz for matching, it’s a perfect fit.

As long as you use Plex Music for the scanner and agent and leave unchecked Prefer Local Metadata, things (1) and (2) will work as expected. There’s a section in your PMS Settings → Show Advanced → Agent that is not clearly explained is not used anymore. That whole Agent section is not used with the moden Plex scanners and Agents (Plex Movie, Plex TV Series, Plex Music).

Good luck!

00sivan · October 5, 2022, 5:52am

Thanks, but unfortunately this didn’t help. A bit more info; this library of the exact same music files was used on another, older, PMS installation just a few days ago. It’s an external USB drive simply reconnected to a different machine. All music was detected and automatically arranged perfectly into albums and artists on the other server running an older version PMS.

On this server, everything except the music library is working great. TV shows and movies all loaded up fine, and scanning new entries properly updates the metadata.

Smoking gun here is that the new Plex server isn’t reading the music file tags. Most tags appear to be missing in Plex Web, but Picard shows that they are there. Nevertheless, following your recommendations, I did run Picard, and updated a few missing tags. Still, they don’t show in Plex, although a few random tags do appear to be peppered throughout.

Any other ideas? Any other logs I should look at?

nibbles · October 5, 2022, 4:13pm

An entire library that worked perfectly one place and not another is very helpful. It’s good to hear your music tags well in Picard. You’re close.

Were both servers linux with same user:group numbers and logins? could be permissions/owner.

You can look at a track and “Get Info” and then get us the xml info for that file. copy and paste it into </> code block here so we can see what’s found.

If you want to get a good idea what’s happening, do this:

Move an artist with only one Album out of your music USB drive folder structure so plex can’t see it.
Scan library files, empty library trash, clean bundles.
Restart PMS
Move the artist back into position on the USB drive
Scan Library files
Troubleshooting → Download logs
zip and drop any log that changed => the restart time. Only those are useful.
Those logs will be clean.

If you’d rather not upload your logs, you can PM them to staff that replies.

00sivan · October 5, 2022, 4:30pm

nibbles, Thanks for your continued help.

Previous server was on Windows 10. This one is on Ubuntu 20.04.5 running this kernel: 5.4.0-126-generic.

The USB drive is formatted as exFAT and mounted on the new server as 777 root:root. To rule out permissions; there are three video libraries on the same drive that work. Permissions apply to the entire drive since exFAT doesn’t support file permissions anyway, so we can say there is nothing special about the music directory except that it contains mp3s not mp4s.

I also installed exfat-fuse and exfat-utils from the stock repo, which didn’t make any difference.

Copied this music file over to a Windows machine and inspected the tags, they look normal:

And here is the XML data from Plex for this same file on the new server:

<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="5" librarySectionTitle="Music" librarySectionUUID="36a3d1bf-db0b-4724-9190-aac005fb0288" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1664898283">
<Track ratingKey="15604" key="/library/metadata/15604" parentRatingKey="10735" grandparentRatingKey="10734" guid="local://15604" parentGuid="local://10735" grandparentGuid="plex://artist/5edc680bc5e64fcc10115b1f" type="track" title="Black Masks & Gasoline" grandparentKey="/library/metadata/10734" parentKey="/library/metadata/10735" librarySectionTitle="Music" librarySectionID="5" librarySectionKey="/library/sections/5" grandparentTitle="Various Artists" parentTitle="Back 2 Base X" summary="" index="1" parentIndex="1" parentYear="2006" thumb="/library/metadata/10735/thumb/1664949329" parentThumb="/library/metadata/10735/thumb/1664949329" duration="179644" addedAt="1544075704">
<Media id="20317" duration="179644" bitrate="320" audioChannels="2" audioCodec="mp3" container="mp3">
<Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="21083" key="/library/parts/21083/1664946107/file.mp3" duration="179644" file="/mnt/exssd/music/Rise Against - Black Masks & Gasoline (2020_12_18 00_19_53 UTC).mp3" size="7345254" container="mp3" hasThumbnail="1">
<Stream id="27947" streamType="2" selected="1" codec="mp3" index="0" channels="2" bitrate="320" audioChannelLayout="stereo" samplingRate="44100" displayTitle="MP3 (Stereo)" extendedDisplayTitle="MP3 (Stereo)"> </Stream>
</Part>
</Media>
<Extras size="0"> </Extras>
<Related> </Related>
</Track>
</MediaContainer>

I will post logs following the actions you’ve described shortly.

00sivan · October 5, 2022, 4:44pm

I figured I’d test to confirm permissions are good by changing the tags on this same file from the Plex Web UI. I changed them to Test Artist, Test Album. This caused the song to appear in the Test Artist grouping in the UI. I then did Refresh Metadata and sure enough it all downloaded correctly for this track.

As for what to do with that, I’m not too sure yet. I obviously don’t want to do 7000 tracks one at a time.

nibbles · October 5, 2022, 4:53pm

I don’t think you need to do much more debugging as I spotted the likely issue.

Don’t change the metadata within the plex UI which is for special needs and a band-aide when we need to cure you.
You have to fix your Music file naming structure to conform to the current Plex standard. It’s very sensitive to that. The track xml you linked showed the naming is an issue, and when that happens your music lands in Various.

Please follow this for an entire Artist as a test:

Move a whole artists material out of where plex can see it on the drive.
Plex dance (scan library files, empty trash, clean bundles, optimize db)
Rename the files correctly.
Put the files back onto the USB music location
Scan Library files.
On that artist Refresh Metadata and beer.

Example

Music/ArtistName/AlbumName/03 - Some Song.mp3

beckfield · October 5, 2022, 7:21pm

Is the library configured to prefer local metadata?
[HowTo] Configure Plex to use embedded metadata (music)

00sivan · October 6, 2022, 1:04pm

I tried both prefer local and not without any effect.

I ended up removing the library in Plex and then using Picard to sort all the music into artist/album directory as nibbles suggested. Then added the library again and all was well.

It appears that newer Plex versions need the music to be sorted, unlike the older version.

Thanks for the help!

system · January 4, 2023, 1:05pm

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.

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Music is all lumped into one album named "Various Artists"

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