Music Videos TV View vs. Tablet/PC View

[Tremas 197]

When using the TV "Display Mode" to view the details screen for a Music Video, the current layout is not optimal for this type of library item. It is displayed more like a movie item where the expectation is a vertical primary image and a backdrop image. Music Videos typically have a square or wide primary image and no backdrop similar to a TV episode. Indeed, if you get metadata from the IMVDB (or add it manually like I do), then you get an square or wide primary image and no backdrop. Without the backdrop the view looks empty and the information organized strangely on the page.

TV Mode Music Video details screen (with metadata):

 

By contrast, the Desktop and Tablet view get it right. The information is properly arranged for this type of library item.

Desktop and Tablet view for Music Video (with metadata)

I primarily use the Roku AP for my TV emby interface, and up until recently the music video details screen was similar to the desktop view above. Now, the view is displayed as the in the TV Mode which it seems to have inherited from the webap/server design.

I suggest that the TV mode display for Music Videos should use the general layout from the Desktop mode for this library type.

 

[ebr 16169]

Hi.  The only difference is making things larger for a 10' UI and leaving room for a backdrop.  I'm not sure why a music video couldn't also have a backdrop.

The one thing I suppose we could do (universally) is, if an item has no backdrop to show, we could slide the information up (the only real difference between the screens).

[Tremas 197]

Yes, the space at the top is the root of the issue. I could be talked into a universal idea of sliding up the information when no backdrop is present. The could also help with other items.

Yes, it's technically possible that a Music Video could have a backdrop, but I don't know of a single metadata provider that would have one. What would it even be like, other than a screen capture from the actual video. That is already what the primary image consists of.

If it needs to have a backdrop style layout (which I disagree with), then you could lean on the primary source of images and metadata that exists - the Artist. Most artists views for music have rich metadata with logos and backdrops. So you could have the item "inherit" an artist backdrop, but I would rather slide the information up (like it used to be on the Roku).

 

[Neminem 1518]

If the Artist "Michael Jackson" has backdrops.

Why not show them ?

If the Music video does not have a specific backdrop.

[Tremas 197]

I still prefer sliding the info up as a universal solution. That could help with other media where metadata is sparse. Things such as very old films, home movies, online indie videos, etc.

[Tremas 197]

As an example for discussion...

Same item in TV Mode with Artist backdrop

[visproduction 315]

If you choose to use the Web Emby app that allows custom CSS, here is what a music video page looks like in the latest version State Street Theater Theme 1.05.

1.06 should be out before the end of the month.

 

[ebr 16169]

22 hours ago, Neminem said:

If the Artist "Michael Jackson" has backdrops.

Why not show them ?

Exactly.  That is what should be happening now...

[Tremas 197]

I still prefer the existing Tablet/desktop view that keeps the focus on video image, genre, artist, description, cast, etc. Those are all navigation elements I have use for when in the detail view. Most of my interactions with music videos from the TV are going to be shuffling a playlist, finding an artist/ genre, and navigating directors and cast menbers. If you want to make the music video section look good, start making playlists look good with better auto-generated primary playlist images that use text instead of 4 album images. 

[Tremas 197]

To be clear, I would prefer the "if no background - then move to the top" idea to be the universal solution. It would work across so many other libraries where individual videos do not have backgrounds such as internet clips, indie podcasts, old commercials, theater snipes, trailers, etc. Backgrounds are very nice for metadata rich items, but when you just have some self curated items (my media my way), it just ends up limiting utility. As a primarily Roku user for TV interface, it's worked great in that capacity so far- I guess I'm used to it.

If we need to have the artist backdrop for music videos, could it be arranged more like the album view where the backdrop is dimmed in the background? I would prefer not to see the relevant information I want for navigation without scrolling down to see "cast" and "included in" (playlists). Just one user's feedback.

[Luke 42077]

I think you enabled the option to show a poster on the detail screen and that's why it looks like it does.

[Tremas 197]

So.. are you guys just trolling me with this Roku implementation?

I updated to 4.9.1.80 over the weekend, so here we go.

The home screen on Roku now uses the "inherited backdrops" in place of primary images. This results in add friction by not being able to easily identify songs of the same bands.. since they all have the same image. This issue is not present in the web ap (web desktop mode and web TV mode both work correctly).

Roku home page:
Uses backdrops

 

Web Ap home page (TV mode):
Uses primary image

 

In the item details view the primary image is also lost in favor of inherited images for band logo and band backdrop - no primary image. 

 

ROKU detail view when inherited images are available (no primary image):

ROKU detail view when NO inherited images are available (look - there's my carefully curated primary image):

Posters and logos are set to on for all of the images above: 

To make this work I request the following:

• ROKU home screen - use primary image and not backdrop (I hope this is just a bug)
• ROKU detail screen - use primary image when "Show a poster on the detail screen" is enabled
• ROKU details screen - use logo in a reasonable reasonable location (or not at all for music videos) when "Display logo images as titles on details screen." The settings control description says "logo images can be used in place of title text" not "in place of primary image." I want the logos in other places where it makes sense for movie titles but there is currently no control to apply it to only certain libraries. Just leave it off the details screen and only show it on the music video OSD - my 2cents. 

To reiterate from the discussion above, most music video users will not have rich media. The primary images will almost always be generated from screen captures by the system.. which absolutely works for this type of media. It's the only thing we are used to seeing and it works. Please keep it. 

 

Edited November 5, 2025 by Tremas

[Luke 42077]

1 hour ago, Tremas said:

So.. are you guys just trolling me with this Roku implementation?

I updated to 4.9.1.80 over the weekend, so here we go.

The home screen on Roku now uses the "inherited backdrops" in place of primary images. This results in add friction by not being able to easily identify songs of the same bands.. since they all have the same image. This issue is not present in the web ap (web desktop mode and web TV mode both work correctly).

Roku home page:
Uses backdrops

 

Web Ap home page (TV mode):
Uses primary image

 

In the item details view the primary image is also lost in favor of inherited images for band logo and band backdrop - no primary image. 

 

ROKU detail view when inherited images are available (no primary image):

ROKU detail view when NO inherited images are available (look - there's my carefully curated primary image):

Posters and logos are set to on for all of the images above: 

To make this work I request the following:

• ROKU home screen - use primary image and not backdrop (I hope this is just a bug)
• ROKU detail screen - use primary image when "Show a poster on the detail screen" is enabled
• ROKU details screen - use logo in a reasonable reasonable location (or not at all for music videos) when "Display logo images as titles on details screen." The settings control description says "logo images can be used in place of title text" not "in place of primary image." I want the logos in other places where it makes sense for movie titles but there is currently no control to apply it to only certain libraries. Just leave it off the details screen and only show it on the music video OSD - my 2cents. 

To reiterate from the discussion above, most music video users will not have rich media. The primary images will almost always be generated from screen captures by the system.. which absolutely works for this type of media. It's the only thing we are used to seeing and it works. Please keep it. 

 

Hi we’ll get Roku updated to match. Thanks.

[ebr 16169]

Hi. Nothing has changed in the app here.

20 hours ago, Tremas said:

Posters and logos are set to on for all of the images above: 

Those are app-specific settings which don't (yet) exist in the Roku app.

[Tremas 197]

On 11/6/2025 at 8:10 AM, ebr said:

Hi. Nothing has changed in the app here.

Those are app-specific settings which don't (yet) exist in the Roku app.

In a previous post, @Lukesuggested that I enabled the option to show a poster on the detail screen and that's why it looks like it does. That's why I included the information.

[Tremas 197]

 

On 11/5/2025 at 12:52 PM, Luke said:

Hi we’ll get Roku updated to match. Thanks.

Seriously guys, this is killing me. I asked to go back to a more usable interface for Roku and the incorrectly applied update to add background images instead has made it much worse.

Please correct this to match the correctly applied web interface as outlined in my post from November 5th.

Please correct this mess so the interface use a primary image instead of the artist backdrop for the Roku home screen and instead of the artist logo on the detail screen. 

[ebr 16169]

Hi. We're in the midst of a fairly large facelift in the Roku UI and I'm afraid this is wrapped up in that.  We'll get it out as soon as we can.  Thanks.