Search Function for Artist in itunes 11.0.1.12 does not work

The Artists view focuses on Album Artists as opposed to Artists. Search still returns relevant results (assuming you've unticked the Search Entire Library checkbox from the search magnifying glass). Typing Jimi Hendrix in the search box narrows down the artist listing to Jimi Hendrix, other album artists who have covered his tracks, Compilations and Various Artists. If I type the name of an artist who only appears on compilation albums their albums show up also.

tt2

uerige wrote:

Unchecking the "Search Entire Library" solved the issue.

You have to admit that this does not make sense. Do I not want to search the entire libray?

Indeed, it does not make sense but it does work! Thanks tt2!

uerige wrote:

In addition, the Artist view focuses on Album Artists does not make sense in particular when the column states that it will show "All Artists". If the browse button would state "Album Artists" instead of "Artists" it would make more sense.

To view all artists, including the ones that are part of a Compilation do the following (solution provided by Helen Muller in https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4604992)

• From the menu icon in the top left corner select 'Show Menu Bar'.
• Make sure you're in the 'Artists' view in your library for this bit.
• From the menu bar go to View > View Options.
• In the pop-up box, choose Sort Albums by: Title, and untick 'Group Compilations'.

In the Albums view, any compilations will still be shown as one album, not 30 albums by 30 different artists, but the individual artists will now also show up under the Artist view.

partycandle wrote:

Indeed, it does not make sense but it does work! Thanks tt2!

You're welcome. There is possibly scope for better wording. The traditional feature has always filtered for matching items from the current playlist, the new feature truly searches the entire library. Compare these with an App showing for the first set of results when I'm viewing Albums:

New search behaviour

Old search behaviour

You may also find it helps to restore the menu bar with ctrl-b and enable the side bar with ctrl-s. The same shortcuts will hide these features again. There is also a status bar that can be enabled with ctrl-/ but it seems a bug prevents it being turned off again under Window XP.

iTunes 11 with side, menu & status bars enabled

Thanks for picking up on the Artists vs. Album Artists display tip. I meant to cover this the other day but didn't have time and then it fell off my radar. Again the controls for this behaviour are somewhat obscure.

tt2

HI guys this is the issue I have too. The artist tab searches album artists not track artists which I think is really dumb. But I'm more interested in getting all the artists to show on my actual device ie iPod or iPhone rather than on my pc. Any ideas ? The other stupid thing is because of the way it searches now I have an artist named " various artists" and they sing lots and lots of songs lol.

IT never used to work like this I have an iPod that I refuse to update for several years and it show ALL artists when I click on it. And when I plug my phone into my car stereo then it finds all of the artists under the stereos artist search but it only finds album artists when I use the search tab on the iPhone.

COme me on Apple this is basic stuff. Why would anyone only want it to find album artists ?

as one final point. I love the option in iTunes to arrange albums by year of release. This is great but it would be nice if you could arrange it in your device like that. Surely iTunes should be more about the device you put your music on than the actual iTunes on your Mac or PC ?

If the issue is with search itself then in the Songs view make sure that both Artist and Album Artist columns are displayed. Click the magnifying glass and make sure search entire library is off, and you're using filter by all.

If you want all artists listed in the Artists view use the Songs view, then View > Column Browser > Show Column Browser and then View > Column Browser > Group Compilations and/or View > Column Browser > Use Album Artists to turn off both options.

iOS recently lost equivalent options. 😟

Showing only album artists keeps down some of the clutter (in the eye of the beholder) but also keeps albums grouped together properly.

tt2