diff --git a/beetsplug/musicbrainz.py b/beetsplug/musicbrainz.py
index 4257e52ef..aac20e9ac 100644
--- a/beetsplug/musicbrainz.py
+++ b/beetsplug/musicbrainz.py
@@ -607,12 +607,8 @@ class MusicBrainzPlugin(MusicBrainzAPIMixin, MetadataSourcePlugin):
         if release.get("disambiguation"):
             info.albumdisambig = release.get("disambiguation")
 
-        # Get the "classic" Release type. This data comes from a legacy API
-        # feature before MusicBrainz supported multiple release types.
-        if "type" in release["release-group"]:
-            reltype = release["release-group"]["type"]
-            if reltype:
-                info.albumtype = reltype.lower()
+        if reltype := release["release-group"].get("primary-type"):
+            info.albumtype = reltype.lower()
 
         # Set the new-style "primary" and "secondary" release types.
         albumtypes = []
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_musicbrainz.py b/test/plugins/test_musicbrainz.py
index 09127d169..069f1fb99 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_musicbrainz.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_musicbrainz.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class MBAlbumInfoTest(MusicBrainzTestCase):
             "asin": "ALBUM ASIN",
             "disambiguation": "R_DISAMBIGUATION",
             "release-group": {
-                "type": "Album",
+                "primary-type": "Album",
                 "first-release-date": date_str,
                 "id": "RELEASE GROUP ID",
                 "disambiguation": "RG_DISAMBIGUATION",