Musicbrainz MCP vs Setlist MCP
A side-by-side look at the Musicbrainz MCP and Setlist MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Musicbrainz MCP for art & culture work as a local process; choose Setlist MCP for art & culture as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Musicbrainz MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Art & Culture domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
musicbrainz_search, musicbrainz_lookup, musicbrainz_browse.
Choose Setlist MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Art & Culture domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
SETLIST_API_KEY, SETLIST_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE, SETLIST_SESSION_COOKIE, SETLIST_DISABLE_FETCHPROXY. - You want tools like
setlist_search_artists, setlist_get_artist, setlist_get_artist_setlists.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Art & Culture | Art & Culture |
| Quality signal | 56/100 · Good | 63/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | SETLIST_API_KEYSETLIST_ACCEPT_LANGUAGESETLIST_SESSION_COOKIESETLIST_DISABLE_FETCHPROXY |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 9 | 20 |
| Full listing | View Musicbrainz MCP | View Setlist MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Musicbrainz MCP tools 9
musicbrainz_searchSearch any entity type with a Lucene query; returns ranked matches + MBIDsmusicbrainz_lookupLook up an entity by MBID, with `inc` subqueries for linked datamusicbrainz_browseList all entities linked to another (e.g. every release by an artist)musicbrainz_cover_artCover Art Archive image URLs for a release / release-groupmusicbrainz_resolveTurn a pasted musicbrainz.org URL into its entitymusicbrainz_healthcheckVerify connectivity and whether OAuth writes are configuredmusicbrainz_submit_tagsApply user tags to an entity on your accountmusicbrainz_submit_ratingSet your 0–100 rating for an entitymusicbrainz_modify_collectionAdd/remove entities in one of your collections
Setlist MCP tools 20
setlist_search_artistsSearch setlist.fm for artists by name or MusicBrainz ID. Returns matching artists with their MusicBrainz ID (mbid) — use that mbid with setlist_get_artist or setlist_get_artist_setlists. Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.setlist_get_artistGet a setlist.fm artist by their MusicBrainz ID (mbid). Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.setlist_get_artist_setlistsGet an artist's setlists (most recent first) by their MusicBrainz ID (mbid). Paginated via `p`. Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.setlist_search_setlistsSearch setlist.fm for concert setlists. Filter by any combination of artist, venue, city, country, tour, date, or year (provide at least one). Combine filters to disambiguate — artistName + date can span multiple cities, so add cityName/cityId or venueName/venueId to pin the exact show. Omit the artist and pass venueName/venueId + date to list EVERY performer at a venue or festival that day. Every result includes songCount, setCount, and hasSongs, so you can skip empty 'stub' setlists (hasSongs: false) without a second fetch. Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.setlist_get_setlistGet a setlist.fm setlist by its ID, including the full song list and event details. A setlist's songs live in `sets.set[]`; each set may have an `encore` number (1 = first encore) and a `name` (e.g. an acoustic set or a full album). Each `song` may carry: `tape: true` (pre-recorded intro/outro/interlude — not actually performed), `cover` (the original artist when it is a cover), `with` (a guest performer), and `info` (a note like "acoustic" or "first time live"). Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.setlist_get_setlist_versionGet a specific historical version of a setlist by its version ID. Setlists are wiki-edited; each edit has a version ID returned in a setlist's `versionId` field. A setlist's songs live in `sets.set[]`; each set may have an `encore` number (1 = first encore) and a `name` (e.g. an acoustic set or a full album). Each `song` may carry: `tape: true` (pre-recorded intro/outro/interlude — not actually performed), `cover` (the original artist when it is a cover), `with` (a guest performer), and `info` (a note like "acoustic" or "first time live"). Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.setlist_search_venuesSearch setlist.fm for venues by name and/or location. Returns matching venues with their venue ID — use it with setlist_get_venue or setlist_get_venue_setlists. Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.setlist_get_venueGet a setlist.fm venue by its ID. Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.setlist_get_venue_setlistsGet setlists performed at a venue, by venue ID (most recent first). Paginated via `p`. Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.setlist_search_citiesSearch setlist.fm for cities by name and/or location. Returns cities with their geoId — use it as cityId in setlist_search_setlists / setlist_search_venues, or with setlist_get_city. Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.setlist_get_cityGet a city by its geoId. Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.setlist_search_countriesList all countries supported by setlist.fm, with their ISO country codes. Use a code as countryCode in setlist_search_setlists. Results include a setlist.fm `url`; when you present this data, cite it as a clickable source link to setlist.fm (their API terms require followable attribution — no nofollow). If a result has no `url`, link to https://www.setlist.fm instead.- +8 more on the listing page
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Musicbrainz MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"musicbrainz-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"musicbrainz-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Setlist MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"setlist-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"setlist-mcp"
],
"env": {
"SETLIST_API_KEY": "YOUR_SETLIST_API_KEY_HERE",
"SETLIST_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE": "YOUR_SETLIST_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE_HERE",
"SETLIST_SESSION_COOKIE": "YOUR_SETLIST_SESSION_COOKIE_HERE",
"SETLIST_DISABLE_FETCHPROXY": "YOUR_SETLIST_DISABLE_FETCHPROXY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Musicbrainz MCP is categorized under Art & Culture and uses a local stdio subprocess. Setlist MCP belongs to Art & Culture and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Musicbrainz MCP for art & culture work and Setlist MCP for art & culture.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Musicbrainz MCP is listed as free. Setlist MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add musicbrainz-mcp and setlist-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Musicbrainz MCP has a quality signal of 56/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Setlist MCP has 63/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.