diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index 6a11a2f..10ceec6 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 # Kino backend — FastAPI + ffmpeg
 FROM python:3.11-slim
 
-# ffmpeg for HLS transcoding; util-linux for `nice` (already in base but explicit)
+# ffmpeg for HLS transcoding; util-linux for `nice` (already in base but explicit);
+# libchromaprint-tools provides `fpcalc`, used for AcoustID audio fingerprinting.
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
       ffmpeg \
       curl \
+      libchromaprint-tools \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
 WORKDIR /app
diff --git a/backend/acoustid.py b/backend/acoustid.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bbaa37a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/acoustid.py
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+"""AcoustID audio fingerprint identification — free, but requires:
+  1. A free API key from https://acoustid.org/api-key (one signup, no cost)
+  2. The `fpcalc` binary (Chromaprint) to compute a fingerprint from the actual audio file
+
+Unlike musicbrainz.py/itunes.py (which match on artist+album text), this identifies a track
+from its audio content — useful for files with missing/wrong tags where there's nothing
+usable to text-search on.
+"""
+import asyncio
+import json
+import logging
+import subprocess
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Optional, Dict
+
+import requests
+
+logger = logging.getLogger("kino.acoustid")
+
+ACOUSTID_BASE = "https://api.acoustid.org/v2/lookup"
+
+
+def fingerprint_file(path: Path) -> Optional[Dict]:
+    """Runs fpcalc on the file; returns {"duration": float, "fingerprint": str} or None."""
+    try:
+        proc = subprocess.run(
+            ["fpcalc", "-json", str(path)],
+            capture_output=True, timeout=60, text=True,
+        )
+        if proc.returncode != 0:
+            return None
+        data = json.loads(proc.stdout)
+        if not data.get("fingerprint"):
+            return None
+        return {"duration": data.get("duration"), "fingerprint": data["fingerprint"]}
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        logger.warning("fpcalc not installed — AcoustID identification unavailable")
+        return None
+    except Exception:
+        return None
+
+
+def lookup_recording(api_key: str, duration: float, fingerprint: str) -> Optional[Dict]:
+    """Identifies a recording from its fingerprint. Returns best-match title/artist/album."""
+    try:
+        r = requests.get(ACOUSTID_BASE, params={
+            "client": api_key,
+            "duration": int(duration or 0),
+            "fingerprint": fingerprint,
+            "meta": "recordings+releasegroups",
+        }, timeout=15)
+        r.raise_for_status()
+        data = r.json() or {}
+    except Exception:
+        return None
+    if data.get("status") != "ok":
+        return None
+    results = sorted(data.get("results") or [], key=lambda x: x.get("score", 0), reverse=True)
+    for res in results:
+        recordings = res.get("recordings") or []
+        if not recordings:
+            continue
+        rec = recordings[0]
+        releasegroups = rec.get("releasegroups") or []
+        artist = (rec.get("artists") or [{}])[0].get("name")
+        title = rec.get("title")
+        if not (artist and title):
+            continue
+        return {
+            "title": title,
+            "artist": artist,
+            "album": releasegroups[0].get("title") if releasegroups else None,
+            "mbid": rec.get("id"),
+        }
+    return None
+
+
+async def identify_track(api_key: str, path: Path) -> Optional[Dict]:
+    """Fingerprint + lookup a single file. Runs the blocking pieces off the event loop."""
+    fp = await asyncio.to_thread(fingerprint_file, path)
+    if not fp:
+        return None
+    return await asyncio.to_thread(lookup_recording, api_key, fp["duration"], fp["fingerprint"])
diff --git a/backend/itunes.py b/backend/itunes.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..60cf6d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/itunes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+"""iTunes Search API client — free, no API key, no auth, no rate-limit registration.
+Used as a fallback when MusicBrainz + Cover Art Archive has no match/art for a release.
+"""
+import requests
+from typing import Optional, Dict
+
+ITUNES_BASE = "https://itunes.apple.com/search"
+
+
+def lookup_album(artist: str, album: str) -> Optional[Dict]:
+    """Best-effort match for an artist+album against the iTunes Store catalog."""
+    try:
+        r = requests.get(ITUNES_BASE, params={
+            "term": f"{artist} {album}", "media": "music", "entity": "album", "limit": 1,
+        }, timeout=15)
+        r.raise_for_status()
+        results = (r.json() or {}).get("results") or []
+    except Exception:
+        return None
+    if not results:
+        return None
+    res = results[0]
+    art = res.get("artworkUrl100")
+    if art:
+        # iTunes serves a small default; the same CDN path accepts arbitrary sizes.
+        art = art.replace("100x100bb", "1200x1200bb")
+    return {
+        "title": res.get("collectionName") or album,
+        "artist": res.get("artistName") or artist,
+        "year": (res.get("releaseDate") or "")[:4] or None,
+        "art_url": art,
+    }
diff --git a/backend/models.py b/backend/models.py
index 479125d..9c85978 100644
--- a/backend/models.py
+++ b/backend/models.py
@@ -225,6 +225,9 @@ class AppSettings(BaseModel):
     trakt_client_secret: str = ""
     auto_transcode: str = "off"
     queue_paused: bool = False
+    music_itunes_fallback: bool = True
+    music_acoustid_enabled: bool = False
+    acoustid_api_key: str = ""
 
 
 class AppSettingsPublic(BaseModel):
@@ -243,6 +246,10 @@ class AppSettingsPublic(BaseModel):
     trakt_client_secret: str = ""
     auto_transcode: str = "off"
     queue_paused: bool = False
+    music_itunes_fallback: bool = True
+    music_acoustid_enabled: bool = False
+    acoustid_api_key: str = ""
+    acoustid_configured: bool = False
 
 
 # ---------- Shows / Episodes (Sonarr) ----------
diff --git a/backend/server.py b/backend/server.py
index 74269d0..7a69c5d 100644
--- a/backend/server.py
+++ b/backend/server.py
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ import services as services_client
 import library_scan
 import library_cleanup
 import musicbrainz as musicbrainz_client
+import itunes as itunes_client
+import acoustid as acoustid_client
 import trakt as trakt_client
 import opensubtitles as opensubs_client
 from transcode import transcode_quick, transcode_abr, transcode_audio_fix, srt_to_vtt
@@ -1079,6 +1081,10 @@ async def read_settings(user: dict = Depends(require_admin)):
         trakt_client_secret=s.get("trakt_client_secret", ""),
         auto_transcode=s.get("auto_transcode", "off"),
         queue_paused=bool(s.get("queue_paused", False)),
+        music_itunes_fallback=bool(s.get("music_itunes_fallback", True)),
+        music_acoustid_enabled=bool(s.get("music_acoustid_enabled", False)),
+        acoustid_api_key=s.get("acoustid_api_key", ""),
+        acoustid_configured=bool(s.get("acoustid_api_key")),
     )
 
 
@@ -1103,6 +1109,10 @@ async def update_settings(payload: AppSettings, user: dict = Depends(require_adm
         trakt_client_secret=doc.get("trakt_client_secret", ""),
         auto_transcode=doc.get("auto_transcode", "off"),
         queue_paused=bool(doc.get("queue_paused", False)),
+        music_itunes_fallback=bool(doc.get("music_itunes_fallback", True)),
+        music_acoustid_enabled=bool(doc.get("music_acoustid_enabled", False)),
+        acoustid_api_key=doc.get("acoustid_api_key", ""),
+        acoustid_configured=bool(doc.get("acoustid_api_key")),
     )
 
 
@@ -1678,6 +1688,8 @@ _music_enrich_status = {"running": False, "total": 0, "done": 0, "updated": 0, "
 async def _run_music_enrich():
     _music_enrich_status.update(running=True, total=0, done=0, updated=0, error="")
     try:
+        settings = await get_settings()
+        itunes_fallback = settings.get("music_itunes_fallback", True)
         pairs = await db.tracks.aggregate([
             {"$match": {"album_art_url": {"$in": [None, ""]}}},
             {"$group": {"_id": {"artist": "$artist", "album": "$album"}}},
@@ -1686,15 +1698,22 @@ async def _run_music_enrich():
         for p in pairs:
             artist = p["_id"]["artist"]; album = p["_id"]["album"]
             try:
+                art_url = None
                 release = await asyncio.to_thread(musicbrainz_client.lookup_release, artist, album)
                 if release and release.get("mbid"):
                     art_url = await asyncio.to_thread(musicbrainz_client.cover_art_url, release["mbid"])
-                    if art_url:
-                        res = await db.tracks.update_many(
-                            {"artist": artist, "album": album, "album_art_url": {"$in": [None, ""]}},
-                            {"$set": {"album_art_url": art_url}},
-                        )
-                        _music_enrich_status["updated"] += res.modified_count
+                if not art_url and itunes_fallback:
+                    # MusicBrainz has no release, or CAA has no art for it — iTunes needs no
+                    # key/rate-limit pacing, so it's a free second attempt before giving up.
+                    itunes_match = await asyncio.to_thread(itunes_client.lookup_album, artist, album)
+                    if itunes_match and itunes_match.get("art_url"):
+                        art_url = itunes_match["art_url"]
+                if art_url:
+                    res = await db.tracks.update_many(
+                        {"artist": artist, "album": album, "album_art_url": {"$in": [None, ""]}},
+                        {"$set": {"album_art_url": art_url}},
+                    )
+                    _music_enrich_status["updated"] += res.modified_count
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.warning(f"Music enrich failed for {artist} - {album}: {e}")
             _music_enrich_status["done"] += 1
@@ -1705,6 +1724,63 @@ async def _run_music_enrich():
         _music_enrich_status["running"] = False
 
 
+_acoustid_status = {"running": False, "total": 0, "done": 0, "identified": 0, "error": ""}
+
+
+async def _run_acoustid_identify():
+    """Fingerprints tracks with missing/placeholder artist or album and identifies them via
+    AcoustID — for files with no usable tags to text-search on. Filling in artist/album lets
+    the normal MusicBrainz/iTunes art enrichment pick them up afterward."""
+    _acoustid_status.update(running=True, total=0, done=0, identified=0, error="")
+    try:
+        settings = await get_settings()
+        api_key = settings.get("acoustid_api_key", "")
+        if not api_key:
+            _acoustid_status["error"] = "No AcoustID API key configured"
+            return
+        tracks = await db.tracks.find(
+            {"$or": [{"artist": "Unknown Artist"}, {"album": "Unknown Album"}]},
+            {"_id": 0},
+        ).to_list(5000)
+        _acoustid_status["total"] = len(tracks)
+        for t in tracks:
+            try:
+                path = Path(t["storage_path"])
+                match = await acoustid_client.identify_track(api_key, path)
+                if match:
+                    update = {}
+                    if match.get("title") and t.get("artist") == "Unknown Artist":
+                        update["title"] = match["title"]
+                    if match.get("artist"):
+                        update["artist"] = match["artist"]
+                    if match.get("album"):
+                        update["album"] = match["album"]
+                    if update:
+                        await db.tracks.update_one({"id": t["id"]}, {"$set": update})
+                        _acoustid_status["identified"] += 1
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.warning(f"AcoustID identify failed for {t.get('storage_path')}: {e}")
+            _acoustid_status["done"] += 1
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.35)  # AcoustID's documented rate limit is 3 req/sec
+    except Exception as e:
+        _acoustid_status["error"] = str(e)
+    finally:
+        _acoustid_status["running"] = False
+
+
+@api.post("/music/identify")
+async def start_acoustid_identify(user: dict = Depends(require_admin)):
+    if _acoustid_status["running"]:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=409, detail="Identification already running")
+    asyncio.create_task(_run_acoustid_identify())
+    return {"ok": True}
+
+
+@api.get("/music/identify/status")
+async def acoustid_identify_status(user: dict = Depends(require_admin)):
+    return _acoustid_status
+
+
 @api.post("/music/enrich")
 async def start_music_enrich(user: dict = Depends(require_admin)):
     if _music_enrich_status["running"]:
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Settings.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/Settings.jsx
index fc48796..9fdd5a5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Settings.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Settings.jsx
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ export default function Settings() {
     sonarr_url: "", sonarr_api_key: "",
     opensubs_api_key: "", trakt_client_id: "", trakt_client_secret: "",
     auto_transcode: "off", queue_paused: false,
+    music_itunes_fallback: true, music_acoustid_enabled: false, acoustid_api_key: "",
   });
   const [info, setInfo] = useState({});
   const [saving, setSaving] = useState(false);
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ export default function Settings() {
   const [pwShow, setPwShow] = useState(false);
   const [pwSaving, setPwSaving] = useState(false);
   const [enrich, setEnrich] = useState(null);
+  const [identify, setIdentify] = useState(null);
 
   const load = async () => {
     if (!isAdmin) return;
@@ -68,6 +70,9 @@ export default function Settings() {
       opensubs_api_key: data.opensubs_api_key || "",
       trakt_client_id: data.trakt_client_id || "", trakt_client_secret: data.trakt_client_secret || "",
       auto_transcode: data.auto_transcode || "off", queue_paused: !!data.queue_paused,
+      music_itunes_fallback: data.music_itunes_fallback !== false,
+      music_acoustid_enabled: !!data.music_acoustid_enabled,
+      acoustid_api_key: data.acoustid_api_key || "",
     });
     setInfo(data); setTraktStatus(ts);
   };
@@ -131,6 +136,7 @@ export default function Settings() {
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isAdmin) return;
     api.get("/tmdb/enrich-all/status").then(({ data }) => setEnrich(data)).catch(() => {});
+    api.get("/music/identify/status").then(({ data }) => setIdentify(data)).catch(() => {});
   }, [isAdmin]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -150,6 +156,33 @@ export default function Settings() {
     return () => clearInterval(t);
   }, [enrich?.running]);
 
+  const identifyAll = async () => {
+    if (!window.confirm("Fingerprint every track with an unknown artist or album and identify it via AcoustID? This may take a while.")) return;
+    try {
+      await api.post("/music/identify");
+      const { data } = await api.get("/music/identify/status");
+      setIdentify(data);
+      toast.success("Identification started");
+    } catch (err) { toast.error(err.response?.data?.detail || "Could not start"); }
+  };
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!identify?.running) return;
+    const t = setInterval(async () => {
+      const { data } = await api.get("/music/identify/status");
+      setIdentify(data);
+      if (!data.running) {
+        clearInterval(t);
+        if (data.error) {
+          toast.error(`Identification failed: ${data.error}`);
+        } else {
+          toast.success(`Identification done — ${data.identified} of ${data.total} tracks identified`);
+        }
+      }
+    }, 2000);
+    return () => clearInterval(t);
+  }, [identify?.running]);
+
   return (
     <FieldCtx.Provider value={{ s, setS, show, setShow }}>
     <div className="min-h-screen bg-[#050505] pt-32 pb-24" data-testid="settings-page">
@@ -307,6 +340,65 @@ export default function Settings() {
             </label>
           </section>
 
+          {/* Music Metadata & Artwork */}
+          <section>
+            <h2 className="font-display text-2xl font-bold text-white mb-3">Music Metadata &amp; Artwork</h2>
+            <p className="text-sm text-[#8A8A8A] mb-4">
+              Album art/tags come from MusicBrainz + Cover Art Archive first (free, no key). These add free fallbacks for what that misses.
+            </p>
+
+            <label className="flex items-center gap-3 cursor-pointer">
+              <input
+                type="checkbox"
+                checked={s.music_itunes_fallback}
+                onChange={(e) => setS({ ...s, music_itunes_fallback: e.target.checked })}
+                className="w-4 h-4 accent-[#D9381E]"
+                data-testid="settings-itunes-fallback"
+              />
+              <span className="text-sm text-white">Fall back to iTunes Search for artwork MusicBrainz doesn't have</span>
+            </label>
+            <p className="text-xs text-[#8A8A8A] mt-1 ml-7">No API key needed — always free, no signup.</p>
+
+            <div className="mt-6 pt-6 border-t border-[#222]">
+              <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-3">
+                <span className="text-sm text-white">AcoustID audio fingerprint identification</span>
+                <Badge on={info.acoustid_configured} />
+              </div>
+              <p className="text-sm text-[#8A8A8A] mb-4">
+                Identifies tracks with missing/unknown artist or album by fingerprinting the actual audio file — useful for badly-tagged files with nothing to text-search on. Free key at{" "}
+                <a className="text-[#D9381E]" href="https://acoustid.org/api-key" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">acoustid.org/api-key</a>.
+              </p>
+              <label className="flex items-center gap-3 cursor-pointer mb-4">
+                <input
+                  type="checkbox"
+                  checked={s.music_acoustid_enabled}
+                  onChange={(e) => setS({ ...s, music_acoustid_enabled: e.target.checked })}
+                  className="w-4 h-4 accent-[#D9381E]"
+                  data-testid="settings-acoustid-enabled"
+                />
+                <span className="text-sm text-white">Enable AcoustID identification</span>
+              </label>
+              <Field label="API key" k="acoustid_api_key" mask />
+              {info.acoustid_configured && s.music_acoustid_enabled && (
+                <div className="mt-4 flex items-center gap-4 flex-wrap">
+                  <button type="button" onClick={identifyAll} disabled={identify?.running} className="text-xs uppercase tracking-[0.2em] border border-[#222] hover:border-[#D9381E] hover:text-[#D9381E] text-[#8A8A8A] px-4 py-2 transition-colors disabled:opacity-50" data-testid="identify-all-button">
+                    {identify?.running ? `Identifying… ${identify.done}/${identify.total}` : "Identify unknown tracks →"}
+                  </button>
+                  {identify && !identify.running && identify.error && (
+                    <span className="text-xs text-[#fca5a5]" data-testid="identify-all-error">
+                      Last run failed: {identify.error}
+                    </span>
+                  )}
+                  {identify && !identify.running && !identify.error && identify.total > 0 && (
+                    <span className="text-xs text-[#8A8A8A]" data-testid="identify-all-summary">
+                      Last run: {identify.identified} of {identify.total} identified
+                    </span>
+                  )}
+                </div>
+              )}
+            </div>
+          </section>
+
           <button type="submit" disabled={saving} className="bg-[#D9381E] hover:bg-[#ED4B32] disabled:opacity-60 text-white px-8 py-3 text-sm uppercase tracking-[0.2em]" data-testid="settings-save-button">
             {saving ? "Saving…" : "Save Settings"}
           </button>