Index: Slim/Schema/Contributor.pm
===================================================================
--- Slim/Schema/Contributor.pm	(revision 11059)
+++ Slim/Schema/Contributor.pm	(working copy)
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 	'BAND'        => 4,
 	'ALBUMARTIST' => 5,
 	'TRACKARTIST' => 6,
+	'_SORTARTIST' =>10, # internal contributor role for album sorting
 );
 
 {
Index: Slim/Schema/ResultSet/Album.pm
===================================================================
--- Slim/Schema/ResultSet/Album.pm	(revision 11059)
+++ Slim/Schema/ResultSet/Album.pm	(working copy)
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@
 		if ($sort =~ /contributor/) {
 
 			push @join, { 'contributorAlbums' => 'contributor' };
+
+			# experimental sortartist
+			$cond->{'contributorAlbums.role'} = { 'in' => [ Slim::Schema::Contributor->typeToRole('_SORTARTIST') ] };
 		}
 
 		if ($sort =~ /genre/) {
Index: Slim/Schema.pm
===================================================================
--- Slim/Schema.pm	(revision 11059)
+++ Slim/Schema.pm	(working copy)
@@ -1197,6 +1197,16 @@
 			$albumObj->update;
 		}
 
+		# add experimental sort artist contributor - sort on the first artist returned by album->artists
+		if ($markAsCompilation || (my @artists = $albumObj->artists)) {
+
+			$albumObj->contributorAlbums->find_or_create({
+				'album'       => $albumObj->id,
+				'contributor' => $markAsCompilation ? $vaObjId : $artists[0]->id,
+				'role'        => Slim::Schema::Contributor->typeToRole('_SORTARTIST'),
+			});
+		}
+
 		$progress->update if $progress;
 	}