diff --git a/web_server.py b/web_server.py
index 2ca75d47..40731b12 100644
--- a/web_server.py
+++ b/web_server.py
@@ -37495,7 +37495,85 @@ def start_watchlist_scan():
                     import traceback
                     traceback.print_exc()
                     # Continue with scan even if backfilling fails
-                
+
+                # IMAGE BACKFILL — fix watchlist artists with missing images
+                # Uses DB-only lookups (metadata cache + album art) — no API calls
+                try:
+                    conn = database._get_connection()
+                    cursor = conn.cursor()
+                    cursor.execute("""
+                        SELECT id, artist_name, spotify_artist_id, itunes_artist_id,
+                               deezer_artist_id, discogs_artist_id
+                        FROM watchlist_artists
+                        WHERE profile_id = ? AND (image_url IS NULL OR image_url = '' OR image_url = 'None'
+                              OR image_url NOT LIKE 'http%')
+                    """, (scan_profile_id,))
+                    imageless = cursor.fetchall()
+
+                    if imageless:
+                        print(f"🖼️ Backfilling images for {len(imageless)} watchlist artists...")
+                        filled = 0
+                        for row in imageless:
+                            name = row['artist_name']
+                            nn = name.lower().strip()
+                            img = None
+
+                            # 1. Check metadata cache for artist image
+                            cursor.execute("""
+                                SELECT image_url FROM metadata_cache_entities
+                                WHERE entity_type = 'artist' AND name = ? COLLATE NOCASE
+                                  AND image_url IS NOT NULL AND image_url LIKE 'http%'
+                                LIMIT 1
+                            """, (name,))
+                            cr = cursor.fetchone()
+                            if cr:
+                                img = cr['image_url']
+
+                            # 2. Deezer direct URL (no API call needed)
+                            if not img and row['deezer_artist_id']:
+                                img = f"https://api.deezer.com/artist/{row['deezer_artist_id']}/image?size=big"
+
+                            # 3. Deezer ID from cache (artist may have a Deezer match we haven't stored on watchlist)
+                            if not img:
+                                cursor.execute("""
+                                    SELECT entity_id FROM metadata_cache_entities
+                                    WHERE entity_type = 'artist' AND source = 'deezer'
+                                      AND name = ? COLLATE NOCASE LIMIT 1
+                                """, (name,))
+                                dz = cursor.fetchone()
+                                if dz and dz['entity_id']:
+                                    img = f"https://api.deezer.com/artist/{dz['entity_id']}/image?size=big"
+
+                            # 4. Album art fallback (iTunes artists have no artist images)
+                            if not img:
+                                cursor.execute("""
+                                    SELECT image_url FROM metadata_cache_entities
+                                    WHERE entity_type = 'album' AND image_url LIKE 'http%'
+                                      AND artist_name = ? COLLATE NOCASE LIMIT 1
+                                """, (name,))
+                                alb = cursor.fetchone()
+                                if alb:
+                                    img = alb['image_url']
+
+                            if img:
+                                aid = (row['spotify_artist_id'] or row['itunes_artist_id']
+                                       or row['deezer_artist_id'] or row['discogs_artist_id'])
+                                if aid:
+                                    database.update_watchlist_artist_image(aid, img)
+                                else:
+                                    # No external IDs — update by internal row ID directly
+                                    cursor.execute("""
+                                        UPDATE watchlist_artists SET image_url = ?, updated_at = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
+                                        WHERE id = ?
+                                    """, (img, row['id']))
+                                    conn.commit()
+                                filled += 1
+
+                        if filled:
+                            print(f"🖼️ Backfilled {filled}/{len(imageless)} watchlist artist images")
+                except Exception as img_err:
+                    print(f"⚠️ Image backfill error: {img_err}")
+
                 # Initialize detailed progress tracking
                 watchlist_scan_state.update({
                     'total_artists': len(watchlist_artists),