Another site task that people could work on if they want to - a common name could be typed into the artist search (John Smith, Chris Anderson, Jose Sanchez, Tom Henderson for example), and the results could be checked critically for potential duplicate entries. While line-ups are being added in, if a user sees a list of 15, 20 or more people with the same name and country, they'll probably be less apt to open every result to find a potential match (and matches would be easier to overlook in general).
They should only be merged with the proper research. Typing both band names in quotations along with the person's name on Google would be one good way to find proof that they are the same artist. If you run into two that have a lot of similarities but aren't the same artist, and you think someone might confuse them for one other at a later time, you can add a note to their trivia section: Not to be confused with {artist ####} (brief description of other artist in question). If there's a good chance that two artists are the same person - same city or state, same role within two separate bands, but you are unable to attain proof, a note can be added to that person's trivia text field - Possibly the same artist as: {artist ####}.
Shortened versions of names being entered in is another way that duplicate entries happen. You could search the same way - examples: Christopher / Chris, Thomas / Tom, Jacob / Jake, James / Jim, Richard / Rick or Rich, Andrew / Andy, Steven / Steve, Peter / Pete, William / Bill or Will, etc. While you wouldn't want to fill in the common extended/full version of the name if the shortened version is the only one listed without knowing that it really is their name, cases like this can be searched for, and could probably be focused on in a more direct way than if you're also trying to add in credits. The easiest way to go about this might be to open a second tab, and compare the results side-by-side. Another search idea would be names that have two common spellings like Eric / Erik, Sarah / Sara, etc.
Just a thought, which anyone that feels like can run with.
Not related to duplicates, but having to do with artist entries - in the 'real name' box, if you see an obvious nickname listed, like Javier Madman, Dean Blackthrash, etc., it should be removed from that field.
A couple lists of common names that might be helpful:
First:
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decades/century.htmlLast:
https://www.infoplease.com/us/populatio ... t-names-us