Remove MusicBrainz/YT verification (async greenlet conflict), use direct YouTube Music search links

backend/app/services/recommender.py

@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ Already in their library (do NOT recommend these):
 {disliked_instruction}
 {exclude_instruction}
 
-Respond with exactly {count * 3} music recommendations as a JSON array. Give more than requested so we can verify they exist. Each item should have:
+Respond with exactly {count} music recommendations as a JSON array. Only recommend songs that actually exist — do not invent or guess song titles. Each item should have:
 - "title": song title
 - "artist": artist name
 - "album": album name (if known)
@@ -218,48 +218,7 @@ Return ONLY the JSON array, no other text."""
     except json.JSONDecodeError:
         return [], remaining
 
-    # Verify recommendations exist using MusicBrainz, get YouTube Music links
-    import asyncio
-    from app.services.musicbrainz import verify_track as mb_verify
-    from app.services.youtube_music import search_track as yt_search
-
-    def verify_and_link(artist: str, title: str) -> dict | None:
-        """Verify track on MusicBrainz, then get YouTube Music link."""
-        # Step 1: Verify on MusicBrainz
-        mb_result = mb_verify(artist, title)
-        if not mb_result:
-            return None
-
-        real_artist = mb_result["artist"]
-        real_title = mb_result["title"]
-        album = mb_result.get("album")
-
-        # Step 2: Get YouTube Music link for listening
-        youtube_url = None
-        image_url = None
-        try:
-            yt_results = yt_search(f"{real_artist} {real_title}")
-            if yt_results:
-                yt = yt_results[0]
-                yt_id = yt.get("youtube_id")
-                if yt_id:
-                    youtube_url = f"https://music.youtube.com/watch?v={yt_id}"
-                image_url = yt.get("image_url")
-        except Exception:
-            pass
-
-        if not youtube_url:
-            youtube_url = f"https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query={quote_plus(f'{real_artist} {real_title}')}"
-
-        return {
-            "artist": real_artist,
-            "title": real_title,
-            "album": album,
-            "youtube_url": youtube_url,
-            "image_url": image_url,
-        }
-
-    # Save to DB — only keep verified tracks
+    # Save to DB with YouTube Music links
     recommendations = []
     for rec in recs_data:
         if len(recommendations) >= count:
@@ -269,23 +228,18 @@ Return ONLY the JSON array, no other text."""
         title = rec.get("title", "Unknown")
         reason = rec.get("reason", "")
 
-        # Verify on MusicBrainz + get YouTube link (sync, run in thread)
-        verified = await asyncio.to_thread(verify_and_link, artist, title)
-
-        if not verified:
-            continue  # Song doesn't exist — AI hallucinated it
+        youtube_url = f"https://music.youtube.com/search?q={quote_plus(f'{artist} {title}')}"
 
         r = Recommendation(
             user_id=user.id,
             playlist_id=playlist_id,
-            title=verified["title"],
-            artist=verified["artist"],
-            album=verified.get("album") or rec.get("album"),
-            image_url=verified.get("image_url"),
+            title=title,
+            artist=artist,
+            album=rec.get("album"),
             reason=reason,
             score=rec.get("score"),
             query=query,
-            youtube_url=verified["youtube_url"],
+            youtube_url=youtube_url,
         )
         db.add(r)
         recommendations.append(r)

frontend/src/pages/Discover.tsx

@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ export default function Discover() {
       const response = await generateRecommendations(
         selectedPlaylist || undefined,
         query.trim() || undefined,
-        bandcampMode,
+        false,
         mode,
         adventurousness,
         excludeGenres.trim() || undefined,
@@ -78,14 +78,16 @@ export default function Discover() {
       const recs = response.recommendations || []
       setResults(recs)
       setRemaining(response.remaining_this_week ?? null)
+      if (recs.length === 0) {
+        setError(`Got 0 results back from API. Raw response keys: ${Object.keys(response).join(', ')}`)
+      }
       // Scroll to results after render
       if (recs.length > 0) {
         setTimeout(() => resultsRef.current?.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' }), 100)
       }
     } catch (err: any) {
-      setError(
-        err.response?.data?.detail || 'Failed to generate recommendations. Please try again.'
-      )
+      const msg = err.response?.data?.detail || err.message || 'Unknown error'
+      setError(`Error: ${msg} (status: ${err.response?.status || 'none'})`)
     } finally {
       setDiscovering(false)
     }