[tscholl]

I gave your latest version a try - script.artistslideshow-2.1.0.alpha5-installer.zip
 
If I do not specify a local folder it processes the hash files in ArtistInformation
and in ArtistSlideshow.  However I start with 131 in ArtistSlideshow and end up with 39 items and 29 of which are Now artist name and 10 are still listed has hash names. I can identify the hash number in the Artistslideshow Helper report.  All of these folders contain jpg images of the correct artist.  In the hash numbered folders, the artist are correct if I look up the hash number to the Artistslideshow Helper report.  

The ArtistInformation folder I get 28 artist names the following *.nfo files
fanarttvartistimages.nfo
fanarttvcachetime.nfo
htbackdropsartistimages
musicbrainz.nfo

Though not all of those files are in every folder.  Some folders only contain fan*.nfo

This run reports no errors that stop the script. How ever I don't have a complete listing of artists.
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If I specify a local folder then run the script, I end up with 28 of the original 131 entries.   Also the jpg's are not under the ArtistNameFolder, but now in a new sub folder called extrafanart.  ie:

MyLocalName/ArtistName/extrafanart/***.jpg

This run reports no errors that stop the script.

I would expect a folder created for every artist listed in the database even if no images are currently available. However this does not seem to be the case.