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TheAudioDB API

Free music metadata API with a public test key: artist biographies, album artwork, track listings, banners and logos for media libraries. Tested example.

No API key requiredCORS enabledHTTPSFree tier

Endpoint tested and returned HTTP 200 on 2026-08-19

What is the TheAudioDB API?

TheAudioDB is a free music metadata API providing artist biographies, album artwork, track listings, fan art, banners and logos, using a public test key that needs no registration.

TheAudioDB is built for media library enrichment — the artwork it provides goes well beyond album covers to include artist banners, logos, clearart and fan art, which is why media centre software like Kodi and Plex use it.

The free tier uses the shared test key `2` in the URL path, which is what the verified example uses. Biographies are available in several languages, and the artist records are unusually complete for a free service.

Quick facts

Base URL
https://www.theaudiodb.com/api/v1/json/2
Authentication
The shared test key `2` is embedded in the URL and needs no registration. Patreon supporters get a private key with higher limits.
Rate limit
Limited on the shared test key; a Patreon key raises it.
Pricing
Free with the test key; Patreon supporters get more.
CORS
Enabled — callable directly from browser JavaScript
Official docs
Read the docs

How to use the TheAudioDB API

Every request below was executed against the live API on 2026-08-19, and the response shown is the real body it returned — not an illustration.

1. Search for an artist

GET https://www.theaudiodb.com/api/v1/json/2/search.php?s=coldplay

curl
curl 'https://www.theaudiodb.com/api/v1/json/2/search.php?s=coldplay'
JavaScript (fetch)
const res = await fetch("https://www.theaudiodb.com/api/v1/json/2/search.php?s=coldplay");
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${res.status}`);
const data = await res.json();
console.log(data);
Python (requests)
import requests

res = requests.get("https://www.theaudiodb.com/api/v1/json/2/search.php?s=coldplay", timeout=20)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json())
Response — HTTP 200 (truncated)
{
  "artists": [
    {
      "idArtist": "111239",
      "strArtist": "Coldplay",
      "strArtistStripped": null,
      "strArtistAlternate": "",
      "strLabel": "Parlophone",
      "idLabel": "45114",
      "intFormedYear": "1996",
      "intBornYear": "1996",
      "intDiedYear": null,
      "intPopularity": "91",
      "intFollowers": "57510550",
      "strDisbanded": null,
      "strStyle": "Rock/Pop",
      "strGenre": "Alternative Rock",
      "strMood": "Happy",
      "strWebsite": "",
      "strFacebook": "",
      "strTwitter": "1",
      "strBiography": "Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and manager Phil Harvey. They initially met at University College London, calling themselves Big Fat Noises and changing to Starfish, before settling on the current name.\n\nAfter independently releasing an extended play, Safety (1998), Coldplay signed with Parlophone in 1999. The band's debut album, Parachutes (2000), included their breakthrough single \"Yellow\" and received a Brit Award for British Album of the Year, a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album and a Mercury Prize nomination. Their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), won the same accolades and included the single \"Clocks\", which won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Their third album, X&Y (2005), which completed what the band considered a trilogy, was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Dea

Parameters

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
search.php?s=stringOptionalSearch artists by name. coldplay
searchalbum.php?s=&a=stringOptionalSearch albums by artist and album name. coldplay
track.php?m=integerOptionalTracks for an album id. 2115888
discography.php?s=stringOptionalFull discography for an artist. coldplay

Response fields

artists[].idArtiststring
Artist identifier used in other endpoints.
artists[].strArtiststring
Artist name.
artists[].strBiographyENstring
Biography in English; other languages available.
artists[].strArtistThumb / strArtistLogo / strArtistBannerstring
Artwork URLs at various types.
artists[].strGenre / strStylestring
Genre and style classification.
artists[].intFormedYearstring
Year the artist or band formed.

What you can build with the TheAudioDB API

  • Enrich a music library with artist artwork and biographies
  • Build a media centre plugin with banners and logos
  • Display album art and track listings in a player
  • Create a music discovery site with rich visuals

Common errors and how to fix them

null instead of an empty array

No results are signalled with null.

Fix: Check for null before iterating — the same pattern as TheSportsDB, by the same team.

429 on the test key

The shared key is used by everyone.

Fix: Get a Patreon key for reliable access at any volume.

Missing artwork fields

Not every artist has every artwork type.

Fix: Null-check each artwork field and fall back gracefully.

TheAudioDB API — frequently asked questions

Is TheAudioDB free?

Yes, with the shared public test key `2` embedded in the URL, requiring no registration. A Patreon subscription provides a private key with higher limits.

What artwork does it provide?

Far more than album covers — artist thumbnails, logos, banners, clearart, fan art and wide thumbs, which is why media centre software uses it.

Why does it return null instead of an empty list?

When nothing matches, the collection field is null rather than an empty array. Always null-check before iterating.

Is it related to TheSportsDB?

Yes, same team and the same API conventions, including the shared test key pattern and the null-for-no-results behaviour.

Tools that pair with this API

TheAudioDB is an independent third-party service and is not affiliated with ByteTools or ByteVancer. Details on this page were verified on 2026-08-19; always check the official documentation before relying on this API in production, as terms and limits can change.