Plex is not using my local metadata stored in music track files

[CaptainKen2_1]

Server Version#: 1.25.2.5319
Plex Web Version#: 4.66.1
OS: Windows 10 Pro

In preparation for a BBQ this past weekend I had spent last week editing the music Genre, track rating and the mood name in thousands of tracks using Tag&Rename. When I open the file properties in Windows File Explorer or MusicBrainz Picard all my changes are reflected. I’ve performed the “Refresh All Metadata” multiple times, but still tags in Plex are not reflecting what’s stored in the file.

All of my media uses Local data which allows me a huge layer of protection and convenience eliminating any possibility of Plex scraping something incorrectly or their DB becoming corrupt. Almost all of my music has been scraped using MusicBrainz Picard, which does not fill in the mood or style.

I have the Music Library setup as follows:

• Scanner: Plex Music Scanner
• Agent: Personal Media Artists
• Prefer local metadata
• Genres: Embedded Tags
• Album Art: Both Plex Music and Local Files
• Settings->Agents->Albums (order):
  • Personal Media Albums
  • Local Media Assets (Albums)

Upgrading Music Libraries to the New Metadata System:
https://support.plex.tv/articles/upgrade-music-libraries-new-metadata-system/

Based on that article, AllMusic might be where the mood tags are coming from. However, these statements from the same article make it clear that Plex should be reading all of my local metadata stored in the file rather than AllMusic:

“If you choose to enable the Prefer local metadata (advanced) library preference, that basically means that you’re prioritizing local embedded tags over online information as well as committing to having accurate tags for your entire music library. You should really only enable this preference if you absolutely know that you need to do so.”

Prefer local metadata:

“This one was mentioned earlier. Broadly speaking, it means that Plex will expect that you have embedded metadata tags for Track, Album, and Artist (and potentially Album Artist) for each track. These will be used instead of what we would normally provide with regular matching for the content. Importantly, if this option is enabled, then it basically means that you’re promising that not only is your entire music library tagged, but also that it’s tagged correctly.”

Metadata Agents:
https://support.plex.tv/articles/200241558-agents

“Metadata embedded in most music file formats will be read and used if Local Media Assets is enabled.”

[beckfield]

Plex doesn’t read all embedded tags, just a subset that it generally needs to identify an album. There seems to be an addiction to marketing hype that prevents them from being completely open about this up-front. There are a couple of feature requests to expand this.

Tag support for ROBUST music library organization
By Composer

I believe the list below is complete, or nearly so, as to which tags Plex actually reads:

Album Title
Track Title
Artist (artist of each individual track) see below
Album Artist see below
Track Number
Disc Number
Recording/Release date or Year
Album sort order
Album Artist sort order
Genre
embedded album cover

“Composer” is definitely the most conspicuous absence from that list. Plex doesn’t do classical music very well because of it.

Moods definitely come from online sources (I thought it was Last.FM, but it may be AllMusic).

Just this morning I reported that Plex is not respecting the “Genres: Embedded Tags” setting. I think that’s a recent bug. I’ve seen it work correctly in the past.

[CaptainKen2_1]

Thank you Beckfield for your quick response and the link to your thorough post!