# Album Artist Sorting with \`,The\`

**URL:** <https://community.mp3tag.de/t/album-artist-sorting-with-the/58084>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [August 3, 2022, 9:45am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/album-artist-sorting-with-the/58084 "2022-08-03T09:45:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![djdizzle](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@djdizzle](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djdizzle)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 9:45am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/album-artist-sorting-with-the/58084/1 "2022-08-03T09:45:28Z")

</div>

Hi,

I would like to know if it is possible to format the `ALBUMARTISTSORT` and `ARTISTSORT` tags with groups and individuals in mind eg. `The Chainsmokers & Coldplay` formats to `Chainsmokers; Coldplay; The` instead of `Chainsmokers, The; Coldplay`, as I require it to do.

```auto
[#4]
T=5
1=%albumartist%
F=ALBUMARTISTSORT

[#5]
T=4
F=ALBUMARTISTSORT
1=^The (.+)
2=$1, The
3=0

[#6]
T=5
1=$regexp(%ALBUMARTIST%,'\\svs.?\\s','; ')
F=ALBUMARTISTSORT

[#7]
T=5
1=$regexp(%albumartistsort%,'\\sand?\\s','; ')
F=ALBUMARTISTSORT

[#8]
T=5
1=$regexp(%ALBUMARTIST%,'\\sfeat.?\\s','; ')
F=ALBUMARTISTSORT

[#9]
T=5
1=$regexp(%albumartistsort%,'\\swith?\\s','; ')
F=ALBUMARTISTSORT

[#10]
T=16
F=ALBUMARTISTSORT
1=;

[#11]
T=16
F=ALBUMARTISTSORT
1=,

[#12]
T=16
F=ALBUMARTISTSORT
1=&

[#13]
T=8
F=ALBUMARTISTSORT
1=; 

[#14]
T=2
F=ALBUMARTISTSORT
1=Artists, 
2=
3=0|0

```

I have traced it to the split field with `,`. I need to somehow be able to use the `,` taking into account and igoring the split field when it preceeds `The` followed by a space... eg. `, The`.  
I'm sure there must be a way, I just can't figure it out.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@LyricsLover](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/LyricsLover)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 10:15am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/album-artist-sorting-with-the/58084/2 "2022-08-03T10:15:49Z")

</div>

The safest way would be to replace all the possible combinations like `The Chainsmokers & Coldplay` with the new value like `Chainsmokers; Coldplay`

Every other attempt to detect and replace "the" will lead to unpredictable and unwanted results.  
Just think about groups like  
`Bob Marley & The Wailers`  
`The Jimi Hendrix Experience`  
`Academy of St Martin in the Fields`  
`Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark`  
`Queens of the Stone Age`  
`The Mamas & the Papas`  
and many many more.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/motleyg/32/440_2.png) [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 10:43am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/album-artist-sorting-with-the/58084/3 "2022-08-03T10:43:44Z")

</div>

You could run a separate filter after the fact, like;  
`%albumartistsort% HAS “, The; “`  
(Note the trailing space)  
You can check the box for case-sensitive comparison if it applies.

And then use the quick action `Replace` for your albumartistsort field (again note the trailing space in both cases, and ignore the double quotes);  
Search string “`, The; `”  
Replace string “`; `“

As mentioned by @LyricsLover you will need to be cautious of some cases where the albumartistsort field may intentionally have this text. But if you are using this exact method including the spaces, it is very unlikely to happen.

Details of `Replace` are found here;

> **[Replace – Mp3tag Documentation](https://docs.mp3tag.de/actions/replace/)**
>
> Documentation on the Replace action type that can be performed as Quick Action or as reusable workflow from Action Groups. Mp3tag is the universal Tag Editor.

---

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**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:** [August 3, 2022, 11:41am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/album-artist-sorting-with-the/58084/4 "2022-08-03T11:41:43Z")

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AFAI understand the ~sort fields: they are never displayed, so it should be enough to include the preferred sort name.  
Which would mean for me that all the superfluous articles vanish - or are kept deliberately.  
My favourite artist name in that respect is "The The".  
Also I think that the first 10 letters in each name should be enough to sort properly.  
Any further effort spent to get more accuracy in the back parts of a name would be spent in vain.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/motleyg/32/440_2.png) [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 12:13pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/album-artist-sorting-with-the/58084/5 "2022-08-03T12:13:27Z")

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The The - everyone’s (?) favorite reference for sorting!

Often full names for sorting are required…  
McCartney, Linda  
McCartney, Paul  
McCartney, Paul & Wings  
…are examples where the sorting strings are needed.

I do agree that in the use case for sorting fields, articles like A, An, and The can usually be dropped and still accomplish the desired results. Only in cases where there are a distinction between two separate requirements do I use them…  
Jet  
Jets  
Jets, The

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [August 3, 2022, 1:05pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/album-artist-sorting-with-the/58084/6 "2022-08-03T13:05:29Z")

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> [@MotleyG](#):
>
> McCartney, Linda  
> McCartney, Paul  
> McCartney, Paul & Wings

These are names not really with a "the" to be moved around - and that was the problem of OP I think.  
Swapping first and last name is a completely different thing - which I, admittedly, also find absolutely superfluous as it does not simplify lists but generates a long list of exceptions.

I still think that the "The" (and probably other articles in other languages) can safely be omitted to get the sorting in the ~sort fields right.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/motleyg/32/440_2.png) [@MotleyG](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/MotleyG)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/album-artist-sorting-with-the/58084/7 "2022-08-03T13:18:01Z")

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> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> I still think that the "The" (and probably other articles in other languages) can safely be omitted to get the sorting in the ~sort fields right.

Agreed

> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> Swapping first and last name is a completely different thing - which I, admittedly, also find absolutely superfluous as it does not simplify lists but generates a long list of exceptions.

Reality is you either use the sort tags, and stick to your own set of rules as to how you want them to work, or you don't use them at all. But the choice is there.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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/album-artist-sorting-with-the/58084/8 "2026-02-09T12:29:52Z")

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