diff --git a/beets/config_default.yaml b/beets/config_default.yaml
index b7e6b1e2b..439a93f55 100644
--- a/beets/config_default.yaml
+++ b/beets/config_default.yaml
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ import:
     pretend: false
     search_ids: []
     duplicate_action: ask
-    bell: no  
+    bell: no
+    set_fields: {}
 
 clutter: ["Thumbs.DB", ".DS_Store"]
 ignore: [".*", "*~", "System Volume Information", "lost+found"]
diff --git a/beets/importer.py b/beets/importer.py
index ce9ebc01c..d36a5a0a0 100644
--- a/beets/importer.py
+++ b/beets/importer.py
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ class ImportTask(BaseImportTask):
       from the `candidates` list.
 
     * `find_duplicates()` Returns a list of albums from `lib` with the
-       same artist and album name as the task.
+      same artist and album name as the task.
 
     * `apply_metadata()` Sets the attributes of the items from the
       task's `match` attribute.
@@ -429,6 +429,9 @@ class ImportTask(BaseImportTask):
     * `manipulate_files()` Copy, move, and write files depending on the
       session configuration.
 
+    * `set_fields()` Sets the fields given at CLI or configuration to
+      the specified values.
+
     * `finalize()` Update the import progress and cleanup the file
       system.
     """
@@ -530,6 +533,19 @@ class ImportTask(BaseImportTask):
                 util.prune_dirs(os.path.dirname(item.path),
                                 lib.directory)
 
+    def set_fields(self):
+        """Sets the fields given at CLI or configuration to the specified
+        values.
+        """
+        for field, view in config['import']['set_fields'].items():
+            value = view.get()
+            log.debug(u'Set field {1}={2} for {0}',
+                      displayable_path(self.paths),
+                      field,
+                      value)
+            self.album[field] = value
+        self.album.store()
+
     def finalize(self, session):
         """Save progress, clean up files, and emit plugin event.
         """
@@ -877,6 +893,19 @@ class SingletonImportTask(ImportTask):
     def reload(self):
         self.item.load()
 
+    def set_fields(self):
+        """Sets the fields given at CLI or configuration to the specified
+        values.
+        """
+        for field, view in config['import']['set_fields'].items():
+            value = view.get()
+            log.debug(u'Set field {1}={2} for {0}',
+                      displayable_path(self.paths),
+                      field,
+                      value)
+            self.item[field] = value
+        self.item.store()
+
 
 # FIXME The inheritance relationships are inverted. This is why there
 # are so many methods which pass. More responsibility should be delegated to
@@ -1385,6 +1414,14 @@ def apply_choice(session, task):
 
     task.add(session.lib)
 
+    # If ``set_fields`` is set, set those fields to the
+    # configured values.
+    # NOTE: This cannot be done before the ``task.add()`` call above,
+    # because then the ``ImportTask`` won't have an `album` for which
+    # it can set the fields.
+    if config['import']['set_fields']:
+        task.set_fields()
+
 
 @pipeline.mutator_stage
 def plugin_stage(session, func, task):
diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index 60652fa08..d014cc5d0 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -769,6 +769,34 @@ def show_path_changes(path_changes):
             pad = max_width - len(source)
             log.info(u'{0} {1} -> {2}', source, ' ' * pad, dest)
 
+# Helper functions for option parsing.
+
+
+def _store_dict(option, opt_str, value, parser):
+    """Custom action callback to parse options which have ``key=value``
+    pairs as values. All such pairs passed for this option are
+    aggregated into a dictionary.
+    """
+    dest = option.dest
+    option_values = getattr(parser.values, dest, None)
+
+    if option_values is None:
+        # This is the first supplied ``key=value`` pair of option.
+        # Initialize empty dictionary and get a reference to it.
+        setattr(parser.values, dest, dict())
+        option_values = getattr(parser.values, dest)
+
+    try:
+        key, value = map(lambda s: util.text_string(s), value.split('='))
+        if not (key and value):
+            raise ValueError
+    except ValueError:
+        raise UserError(
+            "supplied argument `{0}' is not of the form `key=value'"
+            .format(value))
+
+    option_values[key] = value
+
 
 class CommonOptionsParser(optparse.OptionParser, object):
     """Offers a simple way to add common formatting options.
diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index 96cd08b6b..4171ae3b1 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ from beets import config
 from beets import logging
 from beets.util.confit import _package_path
 import six
+from . import _store_dict
 
 VARIOUS_ARTISTS = u'Various Artists'
 PromptChoice = namedtuple('PromptChoice', ['short', 'long', 'callback'])
@@ -1017,6 +1018,12 @@ import_cmd.parser.add_option(
     metavar='ID',
     help=u'restrict matching to a specific metadata backend ID'
 )
+import_cmd.parser.add_option(
+    u'--set', dest='set_fields', action='callback',
+    callback=_store_dict,
+    metavar='FIELD=VALUE',
+    help=u'set the given fields to the supplied values'
+)
 import_cmd.func = import_func
 default_commands.append(import_cmd)
 
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index d50c25800..ff5f7330f 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -88,6 +88,14 @@ Here's a full list of new features:
   Thanks to :user:`jansol`.
   :bug:`2488`
   :bug:`2524`
+* A new field, ``composer_sort``, is now supported and fetched from
+  MusicBrainz.
+  Thanks to :user:`dosoe`.
+  :bug:`2519` :bug:`2529`
+* It is now possible to set fields to certain values during import, using
+  either the `importer.set_fields` dictionary in the config file, or by
+  passing one or more `--set field=value` options on the command-line.
+  :bug: `1881`
 
 There are also quite a few fixes:
 
diff --git a/docs/reference/cli.rst b/docs/reference/cli.rst
index e830d1482..c5ea5b349 100644
--- a/docs/reference/cli.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/cli.rst
@@ -138,6 +138,16 @@ Optional command flags:
   searching for other candidates by using the ``--search-id SEARCH_ID`` option.
   Multiple IDs can be specified by simply repeating the option several times.
 
+* You can supply ``--set`` options with ``field=value`` pairs to assign to
+  those fields the specified values on import, in addition to such field/value
+  pairs defined in the ``importer.set_fields`` dictionary in the configuration
+  file. Make sure to use an option per field/value pair, like so::
+
+    beet import --set genre="Alternative Rock" --set mood="emotional"
+
+  Note that values for the fields specified on the command-line override the
+  ones defined for those fields in the configuration file.
+
 .. _rarfile: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/rarfile/2.2
 
 .. only:: html
diff --git a/docs/reference/config.rst b/docs/reference/config.rst
index 82c11238a..bcd30169b 100644
--- a/docs/reference/config.rst
+++ b/docs/reference/config.rst
@@ -586,6 +586,26 @@ Ring the terminal bell to get your attention when the importer needs your input.
 
 Default: ``no``.
 
+.. _set_fields:
+
+set_fields
+~~~~~~~~~~
+
+A dictionary of field/value pairs, each one used to set a field to the
+corresponding value during import.
+
+Example: ::
+
+    set_fields:
+        genre: 'To Listen'
+        collection: 'Unordered'
+
+Note that field/value pairs supplied via ``--set`` options on the
+command-line are processed in addition to those specified here. Those values
+override the ones defined here in the case of fields with the same name.
+
+Default: ``{}`` (empty).
+
 .. _musicbrainz-config:
 
 MusicBrainz Options
diff --git a/test/test_importer.py b/test/test_importer.py
index 26dec3de8..1e0dd1fb9 100644
--- a/test/test_importer.py
+++ b/test/test_importer.py
@@ -543,6 +543,38 @@ class ImportSingletonTest(_common.TestCase, ImportHelper):
         self.assertEqual(len(self.lib.items()), 2)
         self.assertEqual(len(self.lib.albums()), 2)
 
+    def test_set_fields(self):
+        genre = u"\U0001F3B7 Jazz"
+        collection = u"To Listen"
+
+        config['import']['set_fields'] = {
+            u'collection': collection,
+            u'genre': genre
+        }
+
+        # As-is item import.
+        self.assertEqual(self.lib.albums().get(), None)
+        self.importer.add_choice(importer.action.ASIS)
+        self.importer.run()
+
+        for item in self.lib.items():
+            item.load()  # TODO: Not sure this is necessary.
+            self.assertEqual(item.genre, genre)
+            self.assertEqual(item.collection, collection)
+            # Remove item from library to test again with APPLY choice.
+            item.remove()
+
+        # Autotagged.
+        self.assertEqual(self.lib.albums().get(), None)
+        self.importer.clear_choices()
+        self.importer.add_choice(importer.action.APPLY)
+        self.importer.run()
+
+        for item in self.lib.items():
+            item.load()
+            self.assertEqual(item.genre, genre)
+            self.assertEqual(item.collection, collection)
+
 
 class ImportTest(_common.TestCase, ImportHelper):
     """Test APPLY, ASIS and SKIP choices.
@@ -672,6 +704,38 @@ class ImportTest(_common.TestCase, ImportHelper):
         with self.assertRaises(AttributeError):
             self.lib.items().get().data_source
 
+    def test_set_fields(self):
+        genre = u"\U0001F3B7 Jazz"
+        collection = u"To Listen"
+
+        config['import']['set_fields'] = {
+            u'collection': collection,
+            u'genre': genre
+        }
+
+        # As-is album import.
+        self.assertEqual(self.lib.albums().get(), None)
+        self.importer.add_choice(importer.action.ASIS)
+        self.importer.run()
+
+        for album in self.lib.albums():
+            album.load()  # TODO: Not sure this is necessary.
+            self.assertEqual(album.genre, genre)
+            self.assertEqual(album.collection, collection)
+            # Remove album from library to test again with APPLY choice.
+            album.remove()
+
+        # Autotagged.
+        self.assertEqual(self.lib.albums().get(), None)
+        self.importer.clear_choices()
+        self.importer.add_choice(importer.action.APPLY)
+        self.importer.run()
+
+        for album in self.lib.albums():
+            album.load()
+            self.assertEqual(album.genre, genre)
+            self.assertEqual(album.collection, collection)
+
 
 class ImportTracksTest(_common.TestCase, ImportHelper):
     """Test TRACKS and APPLY choice.