diff --git a/beets/dbcore/db.py b/beets/dbcore/db.py
index 6247ef41b..0c03f39ea 100644
--- a/beets/dbcore/db.py
+++ b/beets/dbcore/db.py
@@ -393,6 +393,12 @@ class Model(object):
         """
         return FormattedMapping(self, for_path)
 
+    @property
+    def formatted(self):
+        """A `dict`-like view containing formatted values.
+        """
+        return self._formatted_mapping(False)
+
     def evaluate_template(self, template, for_path=False):
         """Evaluate a template (a string or a `Template` object) using
         the object's fields. If `for_path` is true, then no new path
diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index 8d4cf84ad..00b217850 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -576,8 +576,8 @@ def _field_diff(field, old, new):
         return None
 
     # Get formatted values for output.
-    oldstr = old._get_formatted(field)
-    newstr = new._get_formatted(field)
+    oldstr = old.formatted.get(field, u'')
+    newstr = new.formatted.get(field, u'')
 
     # For strings, highlight changes. For others, colorize the whole
     # thing.
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ def show_model_changes(new, old=None, fields=None, always=False):
     for field in set(new) - set(old):
         changes.append(u'  {0}: {1}'.format(
             field,
-            colorize('red', new._get_formatted(field))
+            colorize('red', new.formatted[field])
         ))
 
     # Print changes.