How to stop album artist entries overwriting contributing artist

I have many compilation albums which feature a different artist on each
track. At the present time my WMP Library shows each track as an indiviodual
album with the Album Artist and Contributing Artist being identical.

I would like to retain the Contributing Artist details BUT have the Albumn
Artist Listed as Various Artists in order to effect a single line album entry
in the library.

So far I have only ben able to achieve this by Highlighting entries in the
Album Artist and editing this column to "Various Artists". UNfortunately
this method also reanames the Contributing Artist as "Various Artists" and I
then have delete and rename EVERY Contributing Artist.

Is there any way I can stop the album artist entries amending the
Contributing Artist entries ?

WMP on Vista Home Premium

 

In WMP,go to tools,options,locate the box that lets WMP install artists
info as it gets it from the web,uncheck it.

 

Thanks, but all the boxes that seem to match your desription are unchecked.
The only checked ones are as follows:-
"Display media info from internet"
"Download Useage rights .............."
" Check if protected files need to be ......."

Do I need to alter any of these ?

 

In WMP's library, right-click the song (or multiple selected songs), and
select Advanced Tag Editor. Go to Artist Info, you can edit the Album
Artist there without affecting Contributing Artist.

Regards

 

On closer inspection I realise that I have been trying to make amendments
whilst in the Library Album section and NOT in the Song section as you
suggest.
I,ll try again and let you know..

 

SOME SUCCESS ! Its a slow method for all the one-hit wonders but not
too bad otherwise. I was hoping to alter each comp album at one go but there
you go, life aint easy, is it ?

 

You can use the Advanced Tag Editor for batch edits as well. Simply
select all songs of the album, right-click and select Advanced Tag
Editor. Tick the checkbox next to the Album Artist field to edit it.

Regards