# Action to copy ARTIST to ALBUMARTIST with multiple values **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [February 10, 2022, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/action-to-copy-artist-to-albumartist-with-multiple-values/56264 "2022-02-10T13:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Apesbrain](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/apesbrain/32/21_2.png) [@Apesbrain](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Apesbrain)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/action-to-copy-artist-to-albumartist-with-multiple-values/56264/1 "2022-02-10T13:51:16Z")
I want to copy like this example: (Existing) **ARTIST=Shelly Manne & Bill Evans** to (New) **ALBUMARTIST=Shelly Manne & Bill Evans\\Shelly Manne\\Bill Evans** Can you help me format an Action that would do this? The various "delimiters" in the existing ARTIST tag can be "&", "And", ",", "/", "-". Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/action-to-copy-artist-to-albumartist-with-multiple-values/56264/2 "2022-02-10T13:56:35Z")
> [@Apesbrain](#): > > Can you help me format an Action that would do this? In the best possible case you can get a working action for your example Shelly Manne & Bill Evans But just think about this examples: **The Mamas & the Papas** (groupname, not two different persons) **Duke Ellington and His Orchestra** ("His Orchestra" would be a strange second album artist) **Earth, Wind & Fire** (would lead to 3 names, but this is also a group name) I don't believe that you can create a useful action for all your delimiting characters. ---
**Author:** ![Apesbrain](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/apesbrain/32/21_2.png) [@Apesbrain](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Apesbrain)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/action-to-copy-artist-to-albumartist-with-multiple-values/56264/3 "2022-02-10T14:00:18Z")
Good point, thanks. I wouldn't propose running this Action without manual inspection. It just makes it easier rather than retyping all the individual artist names. ---
**Author:** ![LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/action-to-copy-artist-to-albumartist-with-multiple-values/56264/4 "2022-02-10T14:18:52Z")
Basically, you could do it this way: Step **#1** : Copy the content of ARTIST unchanged into ALBUMARTIST Step **#2** : Split the ALBUMARTIST by your listed delimiters into multiple album artists Please just do this for a previously filtered and manually selected amount of tracks. Otherwise you will get unexpected results! Step **#1** : Use a new action type "Format value": Field: ALBUMARTIST Format string: %ARTIST% This will overwrite every content already existing in your ALBUMARTIST tag with the ARTIST content. Step **#2** : Use a new action type "Split field by separator" Field: ALBUMARTIST Separator: Whatever you like to use, like `&` or `,` or `/` or `-` Again: Please be very careful using such an action! Hint: Don't use it with multiple split characters like the word "and"! This would split the album artist "Duke Ellington and His Orchestra" into 3 album artists: Duke Elli gto His Orchestr ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/action-to-copy-artist-to-albumartist-with-multiple-values/56264/5 "2022-02-10T15:13:51Z")
> [@LyricsLover](#): > > Step **#2** : Use a new action type "Split field by separator" > Field: ALBUMARTIST > Separator: Whatever you like to use, like `&` or `,` or `/` or `-` I think that it can be done in a single action: Format value for ALBUMARTIST Format string: `%artist%\\$replace(%artist%, & ,\\, and ,\\)` ... the list of possible separators/keywords could be extended. I am pretty sure that some players accept multiple values for ARTIST but I doubt that they do for ALBUMARTIST - so if at all, the other way round would be ok. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://community.mp3tag.de/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ce7035d426cb755a7916793326d23b465222a407.png) [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 12:29pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/action-to-copy-artist-to-albumartist-with-multiple-values/56264/6 "2026-02-09T12:29:39Z")