Shell script that uses last.fm API to add similar artists to MPD.

mpcsimilar.sh

#!/bin/bash

# depends on jq to parse json
# https://stedolan.github.io/jq/
#
# This script will query the last.fm API for
# similar artists based on the currently playing track.
# It will crop the current playlist, and shuffle the API results.
#
# You can configure 3 parameters:
#   similar_limit     Sets the total similar artists to grab, a high number
#                     yields more diverse artists.
#   per_artist_limit  Limits how many songs per artist to consider.
#   total_limit       How many songs to add to the final playlist.

lastfm_api_key=LAST_FM_API_KEY # https://www.last.fm/api/account/create
similar_limit=20    # a higher number gives less similar artists
per_artist_limit=5  # how many tracks per artist to consider
total_limit=20      # how many tracks to add

artist=$(mpc current -f "%artist%")
if [[ -z $artist ]]; then
  echo Not playing…
  exit
fi

mpc crop

curl --silent --get \
  --data-urlencode "api_key=${lastfm_api_key}" \
  --data-urlencode "format=json" \
  --data-urlencode "limit=${similar_limit}" \
  --data-urlencode "method=artist.getsimilar" \
  --data-urlencode "artist=${artist}" \
  "http://ws.audioscrobbler.com/2.0" |
  jq --raw-output '.similarartists.artist[]?.name' | sed "1 i\\${artist}" | while read line; do
  mpc -q search artist "$line" | shuf -n $per_artist_limit
done | shuf -n $total_limit | while read track; do
  mpc -q add "$track"
done

Do you still use this? After reinstalling OS, it just always says "Not playing…"

Do you still use this? After reinstalling OS, it just always says "Not playing…"

I have tried the script and it works. Make sure that mpc is connected to mpd.
Just run mpc current -f "%artist%" in shell to make sure. If you get MPD error: Connection refused you have to find out if mpd is reachable as socket or ip. change every line where mpc in use with 'mpc -h $MPDSOCKET or $IP'