diff --git a/core/spotify_client.py b/core/spotify_client.py
index df2a3272..2d81eb81 100644
--- a/core/spotify_client.py
+++ b/core/spotify_client.py
@@ -603,6 +603,10 @@ class SpotifyClient:
                     artist = Artist.from_spotify_artist(artist_data)
                     artists.append(artist)
 
+                # Re-rank: boost exact name matches to the top
+                query_lower = query.lower().strip()
+                artists.sort(key=lambda a: (0 if a.name.lower().strip() == query_lower else 1))
+
                 return artists
 
             except Exception as e:
@@ -611,7 +615,10 @@ class SpotifyClient:
 
         # iTunes fallback
         logger.debug(f"Using iTunes fallback for artist search: {query}")
-        return self._itunes.search_artists(query, limit)
+        artists = self._itunes.search_artists(query, limit)
+        query_lower = query.lower().strip()
+        artists.sort(key=lambda a: (0 if a.name.lower().strip() == query_lower else 1))
+        return artists
 
     @rate_limited
     def search_albums(self, query: str, limit: int = 10) -> List[Album]:
diff --git a/web_server.py b/web_server.py
index 55eb6d2c..619d5d03 100644
--- a/web_server.py
+++ b/web_server.py
@@ -23358,6 +23358,9 @@ def search_artists_for_playlist():
                         'name': artist['name'],
                         'image_url': artist['images'][0]['url'] if artist.get('images') else None
                     })
+                # Re-rank: boost exact name matches to the top
+                query_lower = query.lower().strip()
+                artists.sort(key=lambda a: (0 if a['name'].lower().strip() == query_lower else 1))
 
         return jsonify({
             "success": True,