Where is my downloaded artwork?

[Clackers]

I have copied about 10 genuine shop-bought CDs to iTunes and downloaded the artwork for each album. The artwork for EVERY CD shows up on iTunes, but when I listen to the same music on my video iPod, only the last few CDs I copied (not on the same day) have the artwork on display.

Where is the artwork for the rest of the CDs? Why aren't they showing up on the iPod? Have I done something wrong?

[Jesse Hollington]

Are you using automatic sync or manually transferring tracks to your iPod?

Also, did you add the artwork before you transferred your tracks onto the iPod, or were they already there when you added the artwork?

Currently, if you sync the tracks to your iPod without artwork, and then add the artwork to iTunes, it will not update the artwork in the tracks on the iPod. This is a bug based on the fact that the iTunes "Get Artwork" feature doesn't actually change the MP3/AAC file, so iTunes doesn't see that it needs to update that file after the artwork is added.

Try removing these tracks from the iPod and re-adding them. If you're using manual mode, you can just delete them and drag them over again. If you're using automatic sync, your best bet is to ensure that you have the setting "Update Only Checked Items" turned ON, and then UNcheck these tracks so that they will be removed from the iPod on the next sync. You can then sync, REcheck them, and sync again which will transfer your artwork.

[Clackers]

Thanks.

So if I clear downloaded artwork, then download it all again, it still won't make a difference?

Damn, I have sold all my CDs on eBay after copying them to my PC.

[Jesse Hollington]

No, unfortunately re-downloading album artwork won't make a difference at this point, as it won't trigger an update to your iPod. However, if the artwork is on the tracks in iTunes, then you really just need to get those tracks to actually transfer to the iPod again, which will transfer the artwork as part of this process.

If you're using automatic sync, you should be able to UNcheck the "Display Album Artwork" box, SYNC your iPod, and then REcheck it, which will force a rebuild of the album artwork database on the iPod.

If you're using manual sync, you'll have to remove the tracks from the iPod and re-transfer them back to the iPod again.