A simple script that filters the list of artists by checking their last.fm playcount (written for TMS search)

tms-obscure-artists.sh

#!/bin/bash

# insert your last.fm api key (can be obtained by creating an app here - https://www.last.fm/api/account/create)
# change output_file and artist_play_limit how you like
# you'll also need to install jq

# USAGE:
# cat artists.txt | ./tms-obscure-artists.sh

lastfm_api_key=""
artist_play_limit=10000
output_file="/Volumes/slow/Downloads/tms_obscure_artists"

while read line; do
    artist=$(echo "$line" | sed -e 's/^[[:space:]]*//' -e 's/[[:space:]]*$//')
    regex="^.* \([0-9]{1,2}\)$" # detecting "Artist (number)" entries
    if [[ "$artist" =~ $regex ]]; then
        artist=$(echo "$artist" | rev | cut -f2- -d' ' | rev)
    fi
    echo "checking \"$artist\":"
    artist_urlencoded=$(php -r "echo urlencode(\"$artist\");")
    plays=$(curl -s "http://ws.audioscrobbler.com/2.0/?method=artist.getinfo&artist=$artist_urlencoded&api_key=$lastfm_api_key&format=json" | jq -M -c -r '.artist.stats.playcount')
    echo " - - - $plays"
    if [ "$plays" != "null" ]; then
        if [ "$plays" -gt "$artist_play_limit" ]; then
            echo " - - - artist has more than $artist_play_limit plays, skipping..."
        else
            echo "$line" >> "$output_file"
        fi
    else
        echo "$line" >> "$output_file"
    fi
    /bin/sleep 0.3 # last.fm api has a ratelimit
    echo
done < "${1:-/dev/stdin}"