bug: Plex Retrieve MusicBrainz ID's using incorrect MBID for tracks?

[jimbob1001]

Please check existing knowledge before opening an issue

• I have checked the FAQ and documentation
• I have searched through existing issues and discussions.

Describe the Bug

TLDR: Apologies for the long convoluted post and sorry if i've got this wrong but wondering should MusicBrainz Recording ID be returned for track scrobbles, instead of MusicBrainzTrack ID

I was interested in the new feature mentioned in the changelog...

(plex) Retrieve MusicBrainz IDs #426 thanks @owendaprile

However upon having a play with this feature I'm wondering if there is a bug as although the tracks seem to appear correctly on the listenbrainz 'Recent Listens' page if I then click on the track name link on listenbrainz it says...

Page not found
404: Recording 608f4314-aced-4171-9ffa-ded268a5e905 not found in the metadata cache
https://listenbrainz.org/track/608f4314-aced-4171-9ffa-ded268a5e905

I believe that the listenbrainz page is expecting the Recording ID to match a track, but multi-scrobbler is returning the Track ID. Here is the same link replaced with the Recording ID...
https://listenbrainz.org/track/895096ba-b5be-4f85-94bf-b070485d196c

It seems that the Track ID actually refers to the track just within the albums track listing, as can be seen on this page...
https://musicbrainz.org/release/4ed6bc07-ecce-488a-8b51-c9a897b9dd5c/disc/1#608f4314-aced-4171-9ffa-ded268a5e905

The MusicBrainz Recording ID is actually the ID for each particular track and it's associated metadata...
https://musicbrainz.org/recording/895096ba-b5be-4f85-94bf-b070485d196c

I think what is confusing is that listenbrainz page links contain the word "track" in the URL, but musicbrainz links to the same track contain the word "recording" in the url

Below is some further data - Particularly note that the 'Inspect Listen' data does not contain the tracks Recording ID at all, only the Track ID

PMS Version 1.43.0.10389
Plex Music Library uses Plex Music scanner/agent (with Prefer local metadata).
All albums are scanned through musicbrainz picard before adding to plex
All artists/albums are matched in plex

Example track: Limp by Drop Nineteens

Musicbrainz IDs in file metadata...

**Track**
MusicBrainz Recording ID: 895096ba-b5be-4f85-94bf-b070485d196c
MusicBrainz Track ID: 608f4314-aced-4171-9ffa-ded268a5e905

**Album**
MusicBrainz Release ID: 4ed6bc07-ecce-488a-8b51-c9a897b9dd5c
MusicBrainz Release Group ID: b38f6072-38c4-30f8-bb4a-c313455c4ca7

**Artist**
MusicBrainz Artist ID: 266f5184-d8ab-40c3-9af2-b0c615b37b53
MusicBrainz Release Artist ID: 266f5184-d8ab-40c3-9af2-b0c615b37b53

Inspect listen info on listenbrainz...

{
  "inserted_at": 1768820216,
  "listened_at": 1768819918,
  "recording_msid": "6ff182a6-3946-4710-8dcf-3cc2b2add25e",
  "track_metadata": {
    "additional_info": {
      "artist_mbids": [
        "266f5184-d8ab-40c3-9af2-b0c615b37b53"
      ],
      "artist_names": [
        "Drop Nineteens"
      ],
      "duration": 199,
      "music_service_name": "Plex",
      "recording_mbid": "608f4314-aced-4171-9ffa-ded268a5e905",
      "recording_msid": "6ff182a6-3946-4710-8dcf-3cc2b2add25e",
      "release_mbid": "4ed6bc07-ecce-488a-8b51-c9a897b9dd5c",
      "submission_client": "multi-scrobbler",
      "submission_client_version": "0.11.0",
      "track_mbid": "608f4314-aced-4171-9ffa-ded268a5e905"
    },
    "artist_name": "Drop Nineteens",
    "mbid_mapping": {
      "recording_mbid": "608f4314-aced-4171-9ffa-ded268a5e905"
    },
    "release_name": "National Coma",
    "track_name": "Limp"
  },
  "user_name": "jimbob100101"
}

Cheers,
Jimbob

Platform

Docker

Versions

• multi-scrobbler: v.0.11.0 on docker
• listenbrainz client
• last.fm client
• plex source

Logs

Additional Context

No response

[owendaprile]

Yeah, I just noticed this as well. The data can be fixed up with a call to the MusicBrainz API pretty easily. @FoxxMD, where do you think that would fit best? It'd be easy to implement in the Plex source, but it'd probably be better to separate out track and recording MBIDs in BrainzMeta, then use the MusicBrainz stage to get the recording MBID if the track MBID is present.

Here's the API calls that would work:

• https://musicbrainz.org/ws/2/release/?track=6331bcfc-5dab-4f5a-98b7-3f00af9c1831
• https://musicbrainz.org/ws/2/recording?query=tid:6331bcfc-5dab-4f5a-98b7-3f00af9c1831

[FoxxMD]

Can you both try docker image

foxxmd/multi-scrobbler:pr-448

You'll need to use a musicbrainz stage with basicOrIds search method to get the now-correctly-stored track MBID to be used to match with musicbrainz.

This could be done with ENV config in compose environment like

MB_CONTACT=contact@mydomain.com
MB_PRESETS=id
PLEX_TRANSFORMS=musicbrainz

or use the minimal file config example as a guideline and add defaults with searchOrder to mb config in transformers:

{
  // ...
  "transformers": [
    {
      "type": "musicbrainz",
      "name": "MyMB",
      "data": {
        "apis": [
          {
            "contact": "contact@mydomain.com"
          }
        ]
      },
      "defaults": {
        "searchOrder": ["basicOrIds"]
      }
    }
  ]
}

[owendaprile]

It's correctly setting recording now, but it also overwrites the release/album MBID with a different release (same release group). Looks like it's searching by track, artist, and release name?

[2026-01-19 18:52:54.273 +0000] DEBUG  : [App] [Sources] [Plex - Plex (Chert)] [Play Transform] [preCompare] [V-iacN] Transform Diff
- Original
+ musicbrainz-MusicBrainz

  Title        : Berghain
  Artists      : ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor
- Album Artists: ROSALÍA
+ Album Artists: (None)
  Album        : LUX
  Meta         : 
  * brainz-track: 47d5358a-d9eb-48db-babb-56284da8056b
- * brainz-album: e5913eac-3d74-47af-a3f2-7aa6618f140a
+ * brainz-album: 1dc2a2d8-7155-4260-b765-acb8be02178f
- * brainz-artist: 25f3abd9-63b5-471a-bd25-feb9672dfa11
- * brainz-albumArtist: 25f3abd9-63b5-471a-bd25-feb9672dfa11
+ * brainz-artist: 25f3abd9-63b5-471a-bd25-feb9672dfa11,87c5dedd-371d-4a53-9f7f-80522fb7f3cb,b675f327-4738-4af4-bb83-1adb0003f2d3
+ * brainz-recording: 3b0c03a0-d334-43a1-b501-4a7aa29f1459
+ * brainz-releaseGroup: bb3ec118-57df-4eb9-a8fe-a26a70a7dbe0
[2026-01-19 18:52:54.268 +0000] DEBUG  : [App] [Transformer] [V-iacN] [Musicbrainz - MusicBrainz] 1 of 1 were valid, filtered matches. Using match with best score of 100
[2026-01-19 18:52:53.811 +0000] DEBUG  : [App] [Transformer] [V-iacN] [Musicbrainz - MusicBrainz] [API] Search Query => recording:"Berghain" AND (artist:("ROSALÍA" AND "Björk" AND "Yves Tumor") OR artist:("ROSALÍA" OR "Björk" OR "Yves Tumor")) AND release:"LUX"
[2026-01-19 18:52:53.809 +0000] DEBUG  : [App] [Transformer] [V-iacN] [Musicbrainz - MusicBrainz] [API] Starting search
[2026-01-19 18:52:53.809 +0000] DEBUG  : [App] [Transformer] [V-iacN] [Musicbrainz - MusicBrainz] [Basic Search] Searching by artist/album/track
[2026-01-19 18:52:53.809 +0000] DEBUG  : [App] [Transformer] [V-iacN] [Musicbrainz - MusicBrainz] Search type isrc did not meet prerequesites: Play does not have ISRC
[2026-01-19 18:52:53.808 +0000] DEBUG  : [App] [Transformer] [V-iacN] [Musicbrainz - MusicBrainz] Desired MBIDs for artists,title,album,duration and Play is missing: title, artists
[2026-01-19 18:52:53.808 +0000] DEBUG  : [App] [Sources] [Plex - Plex (Chert)] [Play Transform] [preCompare] [V-iacN] Transform start for => ROSALÍA, Björk, Yves Tumor - Berghain @ 2026-01-19T18:49:58+00:00 (S)

This is the config I used:

{
  "sourceDefaults": {
    "maxRequestRetries": 3,
    "retryMultiplier": 2
  },

  "sources": [
    {
      "name": "Plex (Chert)",
      "type": "plex",
      "enable": true,
      "data": {
        "url": "http://host.containers.internal:32400",
        "token": "..."
      },
      "options": {
        "playTransform": {
          "log": true,
          "preCompare": [
            {
              "type": "native"
            },
            {
              "type": "musicbrainz",
              "name": "MusicBrainz"
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  ],

  "clients": [...],

  "transformers": [
    {
      "type": "musicbrainz",
      "name": "MusicBrainz",
      "data": {
        "apis": [
          {
            "contact": "..."
          }
        ],
        "defaults": {
          "searchOrder": ["basicOrIds"]
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

[jimbob1001]

Wow, this is great thanks! Will have a play around tomorrow hopefully.

I'll be honest I didn't (still don't!) understand the whole "musicbrainz stage" concept. When I initially read the docs it seemed a bit overwhelming, but if it means my scrobbles link to the correct tracks in listenbrainz/musicbrainz it's probably worth doing.

Cheers
Jimbob

[FoxxMD]

Good catch @owendaprile . I've updated the image with some logic that ensures the associated release is always chosen when track or release mbid is present. This will supersede all release sorting. Update your docker image/container when convenient to get these changes.

@jimbob1001 I've tried to include "just show me the code" snippets in the docs to make it easier to jump into musicbrainz:

• Tip callout for ENV users at the beginning of the doc
• ENV config with limited options and full example (expandable)
• A list of full examples at the bottom of the docs

Did you see these when you were checking out the docs? If not, how could I make them easier to find? Also, what would you like to see in the musicbrainz docs that would have made it more approachable for you? The more specific you can be the more helpful it'll be for me, for improving these docs.

I know it's a lot of info 😅 i've got some power users who are taking advantage of everything in there...

[jimbob1001]

Have managed to briefly test pr-448 and successfully scrobbled the track Limp by Drop Nineteens again.

This time listenbrainz links to the correct page for the track. The "inspect listen" info now contains the correct Recording MBID and no longer references the Track MBID.

Stupid Question Alert, but am I supposed to substitute my own email address in this ENV config right? (I did so in my docker compose so hopefully that was correct!)

MB_CONTACT=contact@mydomain.com

Connections to listenbrainz seemed a bit buggy (but this might be my own internet connection which has been having issues recently).

Just in case it helps this was the Error section of the log...

[2026-01-20 07:10:03.642 +0000] ERROR  : [App] [Scrobblers] [Listenbrainz - plex-listenbrainz-scrobbler] Error occurred while trying to scrobble
Error: Error occurred while trying to scrobble
    at ListenbrainzScrobbler.doProcessing (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:810:39)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
    at async ListenbrainzScrobbler.startScrobbling (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:725:27)
caused by: Error: Error occurred while making Listenbrainz API scrobble request: Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established
    at ListenbrainzScrobbler.doScrobble (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/ListenbrainzScrobbler.ts:97:19)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
    at async ListenbrainzScrobbler.doProcessing (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:800:51)
    at async ListenbrainzScrobbler.startScrobbling (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:725:27)
caused by: Error: Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established
    at TLSSocket.onConnectEnd (node:_tls_wrap:1730:19)
    at TLSSocket.emit (node:events:530:35)
    at endReadableNT (node:internal/streams/readable:1698:12)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:82:21)
[2026-01-20 07:10:03.640 +0000] ERROR  : [App] [Scrobblers] [Listenbrainz - plex-listenbrainz-scrobbler] Scrobble processing interrupted
[2026-01-20 07:10:03.571 +0000] ERROR  : [App] [Scrobblers] [Listenbrainz - plex-listenbrainz-scrobbler] [API - ListenBrainz - plex-listenbrainz-scrobbler] Error encountered while getting User listens | Error =>  Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established

And this was the Warn section...

[2026-01-20 07:10:04.042 +0000] WARN   : [App] [Scrobblers] [Listenbrainz - plex-listenbrainz-scrobbler] [Now Playing] Error occurred while trying to update upstream Client, will ignore
Error: Error occurred while trying to update upstream Client, will ignore
    at ListenbrainzScrobbler.processingPlayingNow (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:985:40)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
caused by: Error: Error occurred while making Listenbrainz API Playing Now request: Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established
    at ListenbrainzScrobbler.doPlayingNow (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/ListenbrainzScrobbler.ts:106:19)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
    at async ListenbrainzScrobbler.processingPlayingNow (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:981:21)
caused by: Error: Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established
    at TLSSocket.onConnectEnd (node:_tls_wrap:1730:19)
    at TLSSocket.emit (node:events:530:35)
    at endReadableNT (node:internal/streams/readable:1698:12)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:82:21)
[2026-01-20 07:10:03.642 +0000] ERROR  : [App] [Scrobblers] [Listenbrainz - plex-listenbrainz-scrobbler] Error occurred while trying to scrobble
Error: Error occurred while trying to scrobble
    at ListenbrainzScrobbler.doProcessing (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:810:39)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
    at async ListenbrainzScrobbler.startScrobbling (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:725:27)
caused by: Error: Error occurred while making Listenbrainz API scrobble request: Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established
    at ListenbrainzScrobbler.doScrobble (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/ListenbrainzScrobbler.ts:97:19)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
    at async ListenbrainzScrobbler.doProcessing (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:800:51)
    at async ListenbrainzScrobbler.startScrobbling (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:725:27)
caused by: Error: Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established
    at TLSSocket.onConnectEnd (node:_tls_wrap:1730:19)
    at TLSSocket.emit (node:events:530:35)
    at endReadableNT (node:internal/streams/readable:1698:12)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:82:21)
[2026-01-20 07:10:03.640 +0000] ERROR  : [App] [Scrobblers] [Listenbrainz - plex-listenbrainz-scrobbler] Scrobble processing interrupted
[2026-01-20 07:10:03.571 +0000] ERROR  : [App] [Scrobblers] [Listenbrainz - plex-listenbrainz-scrobbler] [API - ListenBrainz - plex-listenbrainz-scrobbler] Error encountered while getting User listens | Error =>  Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established
[2026-01-20 07:07:53.990 +0000] WARN   : [App] [Scrobblers] [Listenbrainz - plex-listenbrainz-scrobbler] [Now Playing] Error occurred while trying to update upstream Client, will ignore
Error: Error occurred while trying to update upstream Client, will ignore
    at ListenbrainzScrobbler.processingPlayingNow (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:985:40)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
caused by: Error: Error occurred while making Listenbrainz API Playing Now request: Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established
    at ListenbrainzScrobbler.doPlayingNow (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/ListenbrainzScrobbler.ts:106:19)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
    at async ListenbrainzScrobbler.processingPlayingNow (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:981:21)
caused by: Error: Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established
    at TLSSocket.onConnectEnd (node:_tls_wrap:1730:19)
    at TLSSocket.emit (node:events:530:35)
    at endReadableNT (node:internal/streams/readable:1698:12)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:82:21)
[2026-01-20 06:51:18.328 +0000] WARN   : [App] [Scrobblers] [Listenbrainz - plex-listenbrainz-scrobbler] [Now Playing] Error occurred while trying to update upstream Client, will ignore
Error: Error occurred while trying to update upstream Client, will ignore
    at ListenbrainzScrobbler.processingPlayingNow (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:985:40)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
caused by: Error: Error occurred while making Listenbrainz API Playing Now request: Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established
    at ListenbrainzScrobbler.doPlayingNow (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/ListenbrainzScrobbler.ts:106:19)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
    at async ListenbrainzScrobbler.processingPlayingNow (CWD/src/backend/scrobblers/AbstractScrobbleClient.ts:981:21)
caused by: Error: Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established
    at TLSSocket.onConnectEnd (node:_tls_wrap:1730:19)
    at TLSSocket.emit (node:events:530:35)
    at endReadableNT (node:internal/streams/readable:1698:12)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:82:21)

I think with the docs they are probably fine, was more a case of me not having the time and brain power to understand them! Hopefully I will get a chance to dive in at some point soon

Anyway, I'm very pleased with the new feature and overall loving multi-scrobbler!

Let me know if you need anything else, and thanks for looking into this bug so quickly

Cheers
Jimbob

[jimbob1001]

Just to update - decided to nuke my config and only use ENV config (noticed a couple of minor errors in my original json config) and all is now working without any errors in logs

Out of interest - is it possible to name a Client/Source using ENV config? (currently they just say "unnamed" in the )

Cheers,
Jimbob

[FoxxMD]

Error: Client network socket disconnected before secure TLS connection was established

Yeah this looks like either an issue either with your connection to listenbrainz or maybe they were having availability issues at the time you tried to scrobble. Switching to ENV "fixing" it is more likely correlation with trying again at a different time than any functional difference with MS.

is it possible to name a Client/Source using ENV config?

Not at this time. The ENV config approach is designed for users who don't want to/don't know how to do more in depth config with file/json. It's intentionally less configurable to target that type of users and as well as making it easier for me, as each additional general config option using ENV means adding logic per each client/source, as opposed to file where it just applies automatically.

[jimbob1001]

Been trying to get my head around this - I'm struggling because I'm not used to json and not sure about where exactly to put stuff from the docs. Does this config.json look okay for using the musicbrainz stage with plex or have i missed something...

{
  "sourceDefaults": {
    "maxPollRetries": 0,
    "maxRequestRetries": 1,
    "retryMultiplier": 1.5
  },
  "clientDefaults": {
    "maxRequestRetries": 1,
    "retryMultiplier": 1.5
  },
  "transformers": [
    {
      "type": "musicbrainz",
      "name": "musicbrainz_transform",
      "data": {
        "apis": [
          {
            "contact": "contact@mydomain.com"
          }
        ]
      },
      "defaults": {
        "searchOrder": ["basicOrIds"]
      }
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "type": "plex",
      "name": "Plex_Source",
      "data": {
        "token": "123456789",
        "url": "http://192.168.200.1:32400",
        "usersallow": "plex_user",
        "librariesAllow": "Plex Music"
      }
    }
  ],
  "clients": [
    {
      "type": "listenbrainz",
      "name": "ListenBrainz_Client",
      "data": {
        "token": "123456789",
        "username": "listenbrainz_user",
        "url": "https://api.listenbrainz.org"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "lastfm",
      "name": "LastFM_Client",
      "data": {
        "apiKey": "123456789",
        "secret": "123456789",
        "redirectUri": "http://192.168.200.2:9078/lastfm/callback"
      }
    }
  ]
}

[FoxxMD]

@jimbob1001 almost there!

{
  "transformers": [
    {
      "type": "musicbrainz",
      "name": "musicbrainz_transform",
      "data": {
        "apis": [
          {
            "contact": "contact@mydomain.com"
          }
        ]
      },
      "defaults": {
        "searchOrder": ["basicOrIds"]
      }
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "type": "plex",
      "name": "Plex_Source",
      "data": {
        "token": "123456789",
        "url": "http://192.168.200.1:32400",
        "usersAllow": ["plex_user"],
        "librariesAllow": ["Plex Music"]
      },
      "options": {
        "playTransform": {
          "log": "all",
          "preCompare": [
            {
              "type": "musicbrainz_transform"
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "clients": [
    {
      "type": "listenbrainz",
      "name": "ListenBrainz_Client",
      "data": {
        "token": "123456789",
        "username": "listenbrainz_user"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "lastfm",
      "name": "LastFM_Client",
      "data": {
        "apiKey": "123456789",
        "secret": "123456789",
        "redirectUri": "http://192.168.200.2:9078/lastfm/callback"
      }
    }
  ]
}

You were missing options.playTransform in the plex source. And usersAllow librariesAllow should be arrays instead of strings.

[jimbob1001]

Thanks so much - got it working now!

I've been scrobbling successfully with pr-448 for last few days without noticing any issues - all tracks seem to be matching fine in listenbrainz

Multi-Scrobbler is really very good