Do I need an API key?

No! MusicBrainz is completely free and open. No authentication required. Just subscribe and start searching. Rate limit is 1 request per second.

MBID stands for MusicBrainz Identifier — a unique UUID assigned to every entity in the database (artists, releases, recordings, labels, works). Use search tools to find MBIDs, then use get_* tools with the MBID for detailed info.

What's the difference between a release and a release group?

A release is a specific physical or digital version of an album (e.g. the 2012 remastered CD). A release group groups all versions of the same album together (e.g. "The Dark Side of the Moon" as a canonical work). Use release groups for finding the canonical album.

MusicBrainz MCP Server for Cursor 15 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: MusicBrainz
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol

Built by Vinkius GDPR 15 Tools IDE

Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates LLM-powered coding assistance directly into the development workflow. Its Agent mode enables autonomous multi-step coding tasks, and MCP support lets agents access external data sources and APIs during code generation.

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The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install MusicBrainz and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "musicbrainz": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About MusicBrainz MCP Server

Connect to MusicBrainz, the world's largest open music database, and explore music metadata through natural conversation — no API key needed.

Cursor's Agent mode turns MusicBrainz into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from MusicBrainz and it fetches, processes, and writes. all in a single agentic loop. 15 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.

What you can do

Artist Search — Find musicians, bands, orchestras and composers with types, countries and active dates
Release Search — Search album releases with artists, dates, countries, labels and track counts
Track Search — Find individual recordings with durations, ISRCs and album info
Release Groups — Browse canonical albums and singles grouped across different releases
Label Search — Find record labels and publishers
Work Search — Search musical compositions distinct from recordings
Browse — Get all releases by a specific artist or label

The MusicBrainz MCP Server exposes 15 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cursor in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect MusicBrainz to Cursor via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the MusicBrainz MCP Server with Cursor.

Open MCP Settings

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens

Save the file

Cursor will automatically detect the new MCP server

Start using MusicBrainz

Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using MusicBrainz, help me...". 15 tools available

Why Use Cursor with the MusicBrainz MCP Server

Cursor AI Code Editor provides unique advantages when paired with MusicBrainz through the Model Context Protocol.

Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context

Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP. no copy-pasting from external dashboards

MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment

VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools

MusicBrainz + Cursor Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Cursor combined with the MusicBrainz MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Code generation with live data: ask Cursor to generate a security report module using live DNS and subdomain data fetched through MCP

Automated documentation: have Cursor query your API's tool schemas and generate TypeScript interfaces or OpenAPI specs automatically

Infrastructure-as-code: Cursor can fetch domain configurations and generate corresponding Terraform or CloudFormation templates

Test scaffolding: ask Cursor to pull real API responses via MCP and generate unit test fixtures from actual data

MusicBrainz MCP Tools for Cursor (15)

These 15 tools become available when you connect MusicBrainz to Cursor via MCP:

browse_releases_by_artist

Returns release titles, dates, countries and labels. Pagination: max 100 results per request. Browse all releases by a specific artist

browse_releases_by_label

Returns release titles, artists, dates and countries. Pagination: max 100 results. Browse all releases by a specific record label

get_artist

Returns name, type, country, life span, disambiguation and more. Optionally include related data with inc parameter: "releases", "release-groups", "recordings", "works", "aliases". Get detailed info for a specific artist by MBID

get_label

Returns label name, type, country, founding date and more. Get detailed info for a specific record label by MBID

get_recording

Returns title, artist, duration, ISRCs, releases it appears on and more. Optionally include: "artists", "isrcs", "releases", "aliases". Get detailed info for a specific recording by MBID

get_release

Returns title, artist, date, country, label, barcode, track listing and more. Optionally include: "artists", "labels", "recordings", "discids", "isrcs", "media". Get detailed info for a specific release by MBID

get_release_group

Returns title, artist, primary type, first release date and more. Optionally include: "artists", "releases", "aliases". Get detailed info for a specific release group by MBID

get_work

Returns work title, writers, type, ISWC, languages and more. Get detailed info for a specific musical work by MBID

search_areas

Returns area names, types (country, city, subdivision, etc.) and ISO codes. Useful for finding area IDs to use in other searches. Search for geographic areas (countries, cities, regions)

search_artists

). Returns artist names, IDs, types (person, group, orchestra, etc.), countries, active dates and disambiguation info. Supports Lucene query syntax for advanced searches. Pagination: max 100 results per request. Search for music artists

search_labels

Returns label names, types (original production, reissue, etc.), countries and founding dates. Pagination: max 100 results. Search for record labels

search_recordings

Returns recording titles, artists, durations, album names and ISRCs. Useful for finding specific track versions and metadata. Pagination: max 100 results. Search for individual track recordings

search_release_groups

Returns titles, artists, primary types (album, single, EP, etc.) and dates. Useful for finding the canonical album/single version. Pagination: max 100 results. Search for release groups (albums, singles, EPs)

search_releases

Returns release titles, artists, dates, countries, labels and track counts. Supports filtering by status (official, promotion, bootleg). Pagination: max 100 results. Search for album releases

search_works

Returns work titles, writers, types (song, opera, symphony, etc.) and ISWCs. Useful for finding composition metadata separate from specific recordings. Pagination: max 100 results. Search for musical works (compositions)

Example Prompts for MusicBrainz in Cursor

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cursor agent to start working with MusicBrainz immediately.

"Search for the band Radiohead."

"Show me all albums by Miles Davis."

"Search for the recording of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen."

Troubleshooting MusicBrainz MCP Server with Cursor

Common issues when connecting MusicBrainz to Cursor through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Tools not appearing in Cursor

Ensure you are in Agent mode (not Ask mode). MCP tools only work in Agent mode.

Server shows as disconnected

Check Settings → Features → MCP and verify the server status. Try clicking the refresh button.

MusicBrainz + Cursor FAQ

Common questions about integrating MusicBrainz MCP Server with Cursor.

What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?

Agent mode is Cursor's autonomous execution mode where the AI can perform multi-step tasks: reading files, editing code, running terminal commands, and calling MCP tools. Without Agent mode, Cursor operates in a simpler ask-and-answer mode that doesn't support tool calling. Always ensure you're in Agent mode when working with MCP servers.

Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?

Cursor looks for MCP server configurations in a mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.

Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?

No. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode through the chat panel. Inline completions and Tab suggestions do not trigger MCP tool calls. This is by design. tool calls require user visibility and approval.

How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?

Open Settings → Features → MCP and look for your server name. A green indicator means the server is connected. You can also check Agent mode's available tools by clicking the tools dropdown in the chat panel.