diff --git a/beets/autotag/__init__.py b/beets/autotag/__init__.py
index 13923d034..bcd43554e 100644
--- a/beets/autotag/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/autotag/__init__.py
@@ -125,6 +125,10 @@ def apply_metadata(items, album_info):
             item.artist = track_info.artist
         else:
             item.artist = album_info.artist
+        if track_info.artist_sort_name:
+            item.artist_sort_name = track_info.artist_sort_name
+        elif album_info.artist_sort_name:
+            item.artist_sort_name = album_info.artist_sort_name
         item.albumartist = album_info.artist
         item.album = album_info.album
         item.tracktotal = len(items)
diff --git a/beets/autotag/hooks.py b/beets/autotag/hooks.py
index 618cbe33b..849021688 100644
--- a/beets/autotag/hooks.py
+++ b/beets/autotag/hooks.py
@@ -36,13 +36,14 @@ class AlbumInfo(object):
     - ``day``: release day
     - ``label``: music label responsible for the release
     - ``mediums``: the number of discs in this release
+    - ``artist_sort_name``: name of the release's artists for sorting
 
     The fields up through ``tracks`` are required. The others are
     optional and may be None.
     """
     def __init__(self, album, album_id, artist, artist_id, tracks, asin=None,
                  albumtype=None, va=False, year=None, month=None, day=None,
-                 label=None, mediums=None):
+                 label=None, mediums=None, artist_sort_name=None):
         self.album = album
         self.album_id = album_id
         self.artist = artist
@@ -56,6 +57,8 @@ class AlbumInfo(object):
         self.day = day
         self.label = label
         self.mediums = mediums
+        if artist_sort_name != '':
+            self.artist_sort_name = artist_sort_name
 
 class TrackInfo(object):
     """Describes a canonical track present on a release. Appears as part
@@ -68,12 +71,14 @@ class TrackInfo(object):
     - ``length``: float: duration of the track in seconds
     - ``medium``: the disc number this track appears on in the album
     - ``medium_index``: the track's position on the disc
+    - ``artist_sort_name``: name of the release's artists for sorting
 
     Only ``title`` and ``track_id`` are required. The rest of the fields
     may be None.
     """
     def __init__(self, title, track_id, artist=None, artist_id=None,
-                 length=None, medium=None, medium_index=None):
+                 length=None, medium=None, medium_index=None,
+                 artist_sort_name=None):
         self.title = title
         self.track_id = track_id
         self.artist = artist
@@ -81,7 +86,8 @@ class TrackInfo(object):
         self.length = length
         self.medium = medium
         self.medium_index = medium_index
-
+        if artist_sort_name != '':
+            self.artist_sort_name = artist_sort_name
 
 # Aggregation of sources.
 
diff --git a/beets/autotag/mb.py b/beets/autotag/mb.py
index aeefab022..2a4caf8e9 100644
--- a/beets/autotag/mb.py
+++ b/beets/autotag/mb.py
@@ -85,12 +85,17 @@ def album_info(release):
     """
     # Get artist name using join phrases.
     artist_parts = []
+    artist_sort_parts = []
     for el in release['artist-credit']:
         if isinstance(el, basestring):
             artist_parts.append(el)
         else:
             artist_parts.append(el['artist']['name'])
+            artist_sort_parts.append(el['artist']['sort-name'])
     artist_name = ''.join(artist_parts)
+    artist_sort_name = ', '.join(artist_sort_parts)
+    if artist_sort_name == artist_name:
+        artist_sort_name = ''
 
     # Basic info.
     track_infos = []
@@ -111,6 +116,7 @@ def album_info(release):
         release['artist-credit'][0]['artist']['id'],
         track_infos,
         mediums=len(release['medium-list']),
+        artist_sort_name = artist_sort_name,
     )
     info.va = info.artist_id == VARIOUS_ARTISTS_ID
     if 'asin' in release:
diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index 98655e11b..a9941d48a 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ ITEM_FIELDS = [
 
     ('title',            'text', True, True),
     ('artist',           'text', True, True),
+    ('artist_sort_name', 'text', True, True),
     ('album',            'text', True, True),
     ('albumartist',      'text', True, True),
     ('genre',            'text', True, True),
diff --git a/beets/mediafile.py b/beets/mediafile.py
index 15b9912af..e7f6e948d 100644
--- a/beets/mediafile.py
+++ b/beets/mediafile.py
@@ -738,6 +738,11 @@ class MediaFile(object):
                 mp4 = StorageStyle("\xa9ART"), 
                 etc = StorageStyle('artist'),
             )     
+    artist_sort_name = MediaField(
+                          mp3 = StorageStyle('TSOP'),
+                          mp4 = StorageStyle("soar"), 
+                          etc = StorageStyle('ARTISTSORT'),
+            )
     album = MediaField(
                 mp3 = StorageStyle('TALB'),
                 mp4 = StorageStyle("\xa9alb"),