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Artist Photos Missing in iTunes 12.5.1

I've noticed a few artist photos are missing since upgrading to 12.5.1. Any ideas on how to fix or refresh? They are mainstream artists, nothing obscure.

Posted on Sep 13, 2016 10:07 AM

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466 replies

Sep 16, 2016 2:41 PM in response to cul cul la praline

I still think this is a bug and has nothing to do with what you bought from Apple. I never once purchased anything from iTunes Music, all ripped from CD. Yet Foo Fighters and MSTRKRFT show the stock Apple image and the remaining are the microphone. When I transfer music to my phone, artists like Nirvana and Queens of the Stone Age appear with the Apple Music stock image. Once again, never bought a thing from them. This is a bug, and I'm just gonna have to wait it out I guess till they figure it out.

Sep 17, 2016 12:53 AM in response to yepthatswhatisaid

Sorry to disappoint you. In my case that's not true. I'm missing cover artwork beside the missing artists pics. And additionally some embedded covers are there but will be shown instantly when playing at least one song of that album.

Does that mean that i have to play now every album of my library?


From a customers perspective: annoying.

Sep 17, 2016 4:38 AM in response to tnorris

Sorry while I am missing some artist and am not happy about it, I have a lot of music that I ripped that shows artists. Also, I may be wrong but it appears that over time, more are showing up. It seems to be similar to iTunes match. Populating the artwork is often delayed for wantever reason. I am hoping that most of this will clear up after a few days.

Sep 17, 2016 4:52 AM in response to tnorris

This is my last update until the Sierra comes out and see what it may do. I have iTunes Match and all my artwork disappear at the previous iTunes update. I was told by apple to fix it on one computer and then update my iCloud library from that machine. Then I had to sign out of iTunes Match on ALL the other devices and sign back in. I did all this and all MY album artwork is still there after updating to 12.5.1.21. After 12.5.1.21 most of my artists have images and 90% of my music is from ripped CD's. The ones w/artists does differ by device a little. The iPhone seems to be the best. I wondered where these images were coming from. I have found that if I went to the store, searched the artist and then clicked on the button for "artist info" that in the majority of cases the image that shows there is what I see in my iTunes in the artists view. Also the majority of missing artist images in my iTunes don't have an image in the store. Just for information.

Sep 17, 2016 9:39 AM in response to tnorris

Me, too, on all of the above. And no rhyme or reason as to which artists get artwork and which ones don't. I can tell that some which I've imported the CDs have artwork and others I know I bought on-line don't. So, it's a mish mash. And it's ugly.


The best thing EVERYONE on this thread can do is go into iTunes and under the main iTunes menu on the left, click down on "Provide iTunes Feedback" and fill out the form. You have to note which version of the OS you're using and which version of iTunes you're using -- but that's the best way to let them know how disgruntled you are. I went a step beyond and said, "Hey, why not let US pick the key photo (using "Photos" language that I know they understand) for an artist (because iTunes used to randomly pick that before we got the ugly generic microphones).


Anyway, that's what everyone needs to do -- complain to them! I also tweeted about it:


Hey @tim_cook Why do you **** up the "Artists" view in iTunes 12.5.1? Some ugly generic microphone has replaced the artwork. #itunesfail


That can't hurt either!

Sep 17, 2016 11:05 AM in response to tnorris

Since the latest update 12.5.1.21, the whole interface looks crap. Apple removed colours reflecting the album art from album, and also who is apple to decide what Artists photos to show up in Artists menu? Now Apple is pushing us to use their Apple Music services in order for Artist's pictures appear in Artists menu otherwise it will just be a Mic icon. Ridiculous.


The last version was better where Artists menu showed every single artists' photos whether you bought that music from Apple or imported your own. Now unless you follow the Artist in Apple Music, their photos will not show up.


I guess time to move on to Roon.

Sep 17, 2016 11:57 AM in response to tnorris

I am missing many artist photos as well. I meticulously groomed my music collection's tags, photos, etc. I know there can be bugs with new releases, but Apple's bugs seem on the rise with each new release. Also, their deciding what looks good and what doesn't for everyone is infuriating. Apple, if you want to introduce a new view, make it AN OPTION we can choose from instead of dictating what you think we'll like. I am so close to ditching Apple entirely after YEARS and going to another platform.

Sep 17, 2016 2:41 PM in response to jdstil

Only the Artists that you have been following on iTunes will show artists's pictures. Not whatever you have purchased through iTunes.


Initially when Apple launched this 'follow' artists feature, we could follow any artist we want. But now since their Apple Music service, we can only follow if we are subscribed to their music service.


I do not buy lossy music formats and I always rip my LP records in high resolution audio or I buy HD audio tracks, so either buying my music from Apple store or subscribe to Apple Music are not my cups of tea.

Artist Photos Missing in iTunes 12.5.1

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