# Switching first and last name of Artist

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/switching-first-and-last-name-of-artist/11020
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [October 28, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/switching-first-and-last-name-of-artist/11020 "2010-10-28T16:57:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 2

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### Author: ![pone](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/pone/32/272_2.png) [@pone](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/pone)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/switching-first-and-last-name-of-artist/11020/2 "2010-10-28T18:54:24Z")

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> [@chrismp3junkie](#):
>
> Right now, most of my MP3s are in the following order:
> 
> Bruce Springsteen  
> Spice Girls
> 
> I would like reverse the order for artist names so it reads alphabetically, as follows:
> 
> Spice Girls  
> Springsteen, Bruce
> 
> Although I know I can make the change easily using the Artist field - select all the artist and make a global change - when dealing with compilations or soundtracks, this becomes tedious and onerous.
> 
> If there is a method to make these changes with a batch of files, please recommend. If not, please take this a suggestion for future versions. Thanks!

Action: Format Value  
Field: Artist  
String: `$regexp(%artist%,(.*) (.*),$2',' $1)`

BUT:  
Works only for artists with one sure name.  
If you want Jon Bon Jovi to Bon Jovi, Jon (and not Jovi, Jon Bon) you have to use:  
`$regexp(%artist%,(.*?) (.*),$2',' $1)`

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