semicolon custom tag delimiter does not work for MP3 Artist tag #6422

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opened 2026-02-07 03:37:12 +03:00 by OVERLORD · 12 comments
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Originally created by @RobMielcarski on GitHub (Nov 4, 2024).

This issue respects the following points:

  • This is a bug, not a question or a configuration issue; Please visit our forum or chat rooms first to troubleshoot with volunteers, before creating a report. The links can be found here.
  • This issue is not already reported on GitHub (I've searched it).
  • I'm using an up to date version of Jellyfin Server stable, unstable or master; We generally do not support previous older versions. If possible, please update to the latest version before opening an issue.
  • I agree to follow Jellyfin's Code of Conduct.
  • This report addresses only a single issue; If you encounter multiple issues, kindly create separate reports for each one.

Description of the bug

Multiple artists delimited with a semicolon in an MP3 are not parsed correctly despite library option "Use custom tag delimiter" turned on with delimiter set to ;

Reproduction steps

Scan an MP3 with multiple artists delimited by a semicolon and you will see that the artist is identified as a single artist with the semicolon removed. For example, "Eric Gales;James Cotton" is identified as artist "Eric GalesJamesCotton".

It seems the "Use custom delimiter" feature is mostly working because as a test if you change the "Use custom tag delimiter" to a space then the artists above are identified as expected as:
Eric
GalesJames
Cotton

So the problem may be specific to the semicolon delimiter.

What is the current bug behavior?

Semicolon delimiter for multiple artists in MP3 are ignored.

What is the expected correct behavior?

Multiple artists delimited by a semicolon should be parsed correctly.

Jellyfin Server version

10.10.0+

Specify commit id

No response

Specify unstable release number

No response

Specify version number

No response

Specify the build version

10.10.1

Environment

Windows 11
Browser client

Jellyfin logs

No log required to explain this problem.

FFmpeg logs

No response

Client / Browser logs

No response

Relevant screenshots or videos

No response

Additional information

No response

Originally created by @RobMielcarski on GitHub (Nov 4, 2024). ### This issue respects the following points: - [x] This is a **bug**, not a question or a configuration issue; Please visit our forum or chat rooms first to troubleshoot with volunteers, before creating a report. The links can be found [here](https://jellyfin.org/contact/). - [x] This issue is **not** already reported on [GitHub](https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue) _(I've searched it)_. - [x] I'm using an up to date version of Jellyfin Server stable, unstable or master; We generally do not support previous older versions. If possible, please update to the latest version before opening an issue. - [x] I agree to follow Jellyfin's [Code of Conduct](https://jellyfin.org/docs/general/community-standards.html#code-of-conduct). - [x] This report addresses only a single issue; If you encounter multiple issues, kindly create separate reports for each one. ### Description of the bug Multiple artists delimited with a semicolon in an MP3 are not parsed correctly despite library option "Use custom tag delimiter" turned on with delimiter set to ; ### Reproduction steps Scan an MP3 with multiple artists delimited by a semicolon and you will see that the artist is identified as a single artist with the semicolon removed. For example, "Eric Gales;James Cotton" is identified as artist "Eric GalesJamesCotton". It seems the "Use custom delimiter" feature is mostly working because as a test if you change the "Use custom tag delimiter" to a space then the artists above are identified as expected as: Eric GalesJames Cotton So the problem may be specific to the semicolon delimiter. ### What is the current _bug_ behavior? Semicolon delimiter for multiple artists in MP3 are ignored. ### What is the expected _correct_ behavior? Multiple artists delimited by a semicolon should be parsed correctly. ### Jellyfin Server version 10.10.0+ ### Specify commit id _No response_ ### Specify unstable release number _No response_ ### Specify version number _No response_ ### Specify the build version 10.10.1 ### Environment Windows 11 Browser client ### Jellyfin logs No log required to explain this problem. ### FFmpeg logs _No response_ ### Client / Browser logs _No response_ ### Relevant screenshots or videos _No response_ ### Additional information _No response_
OVERLORD added the bug label 2026-02-07 03:37:12 +03:00
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@gnattu commented on GitHub (Nov 4, 2024):

I cannot reproduce this on any of my MP3 files that uses semicolon. Your files might be tagged with a specific way that makes the parser not happy.

@gnattu commented on GitHub (Nov 4, 2024): I cannot reproduce this on any of my MP3 files that uses semicolon. Your files might be tagged with a specific way that makes the parser not happy.
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@RobMielcarski commented on GitHub (Nov 4, 2024):

Thanks for trying.

The files are tagged using JRiver Media Center which is a popular long-time tested media manager.

The multiple artists display properly in other players like VLC and MusicBee so I do think there is a problem in Jellyfin.

Here is an example MP3 with multiple artists that I hope you can test.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-1XFAVhqHpiLAETQZcrWIlihvBxY_pHx/view?usp=sharing

@RobMielcarski commented on GitHub (Nov 4, 2024): Thanks for trying. The files are tagged using JRiver Media Center which is a popular long-time tested media manager. The multiple artists display properly in other players like VLC and MusicBee so I do think there is a problem in Jellyfin. Here is an example MP3 with multiple artists that I hope you can test. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-1XFAVhqHpiLAETQZcrWIlihvBxY_pHx/view?usp=sharing
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@gnattu commented on GitHub (Nov 4, 2024):

It is tagging in id3v2.3 format with id3v2.4 null character delimiters and not actually using semicolons...

I can't believe the "popular long-time tested media manager" is doing things wrong like this, which outright violates the ID3v2 specs....

@gnattu commented on GitHub (Nov 4, 2024): It is tagging in id3v2.3 format with id3v2.4 null character delimiters and not actually using semicolons... I can't believe the "popular long-time tested media manager" is doing things wrong like this, which outright violates the ID3v2 specs....
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@RobMielcarski commented on GitHub (Nov 4, 2024):

Thanks.

Every other media player I have tried including VLC and MusicBee on Windows, and many Android apps I have tried on my phone, all properly parse the multiple artists.

Could you please add the null character delimiter as a character that can be added to the "Use custom delimiter" options?

@RobMielcarski commented on GitHub (Nov 4, 2024): Thanks. Every other media player I have tried including VLC and MusicBee on Windows, and many Android apps I have tried on my phone, all properly parse the multiple artists. Could you please add the null character delimiter as a character that can be added to the "Use custom delimiter" options?
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@RobMielcarski commented on GitHub (Nov 5, 2024):

Thank you for making this change.

Sorry I incorrectly assumed semicolon was the delimiter.

@RobMielcarski commented on GitHub (Nov 5, 2024): Thank you for making this change. Sorry I incorrectly assumed semicolon was the delimiter.
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@felix920506 commented on GitHub (Nov 6, 2024):

closing as fixed by linked pr

@felix920506 commented on GitHub (Nov 6, 2024): closing as fixed by linked pr
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@RobMielcarski commented on GitHub (Nov 17, 2024):

I tested 10.10.2 which has the change to recognize null as an artist delimiter.

Artists are still not being delimited.

Here is an MP3 with multiple artists you can use to see the problem.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-3enk0YWlh4_OxI8t89fC7kMo49EbTGU/view?usp=sharing

@RobMielcarski commented on GitHub (Nov 17, 2024): I tested 10.10.2 which has the change to recognize null as an artist delimiter. Artists are still not being delimited. Here is an MP3 with multiple artists you can use to see the problem. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-3enk0YWlh4_OxI8t89fC7kMo49EbTGU/view?usp=sharing
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@gnattu commented on GitHub (Nov 17, 2024):

It is delimited if you enable the use custom delimiter option

@gnattu commented on GitHub (Nov 17, 2024): It is delimited if you enable the use custom delimiter option
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@RobMielcarski commented on GitHub (Nov 17, 2024):

Thank you. All good now.

@RobMielcarski commented on GitHub (Nov 17, 2024): Thank you. All good now.
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@AAMBIENTT commented on GitHub (May 9, 2025):

Still having this issue. All music is tagged correctly, however Artist and Genres are seperated with '; " and still do not seperate them. The only way i can get them to update to get recognized is by clicking Edit Metadata and then save. Maybe someone knows whats going on?

Image

@AAMBIENTT commented on GitHub (May 9, 2025): Still having this issue. All music is tagged correctly, however Artist and Genres are seperated with '; " and still do not seperate them. The only way i can get them to update to get recognized is by clicking Edit Metadata and then save. Maybe someone knows whats going on? ![Image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a03b6906-9ed6-4a71-afe4-d318dfbd0513)
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@mindset-tk commented on GitHub (Oct 21, 2025):

Hello, looks like this was broken by the changes made in https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin/pull/14100. I'm working on verifying that the file I am inserting is properly tagged before opening a new issue.

@mindset-tk commented on GitHub (Oct 21, 2025): Hello, looks like this was broken by the changes made in https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin/pull/14100. I'm working on verifying that the file I am inserting is properly tagged before opening a new issue.
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@mindset-tk commented on GitHub (Oct 21, 2025):

Update: I had to update my tags to ID3v2.4 and it now works.

@mindset-tk commented on GitHub (Oct 21, 2025): Update: I had to update my tags to ID3v2.4 and it now works.
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Reference: starred/jellyfin#6422