diff --git a/core/hydrabase_client.py b/core/hydrabase_client.py
index 4dd63aa3..ed3000d7 100644
--- a/core/hydrabase_client.py
+++ b/core/hydrabase_client.py
@@ -139,6 +139,21 @@ class HydrabaseClient:
             logger.error(f"Hydrabase query failed ({request_type}, '{query}'): {e}")
             return None
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _normalize_artists(artists_raw) -> list:
+        """Normalize artists to a list of strings (Hydrabase may send dicts or strings)."""
+        if not artists_raw or not isinstance(artists_raw, list):
+            return []
+        result = []
+        for a in artists_raw:
+            if isinstance(a, str):
+                result.append(a)
+            elif isinstance(a, dict):
+                result.append(a.get('name', ''))
+            else:
+                result.append(str(a))
+        return [x for x in result if x]
+
     @staticmethod
     def _normalize_release_date(date_str: str) -> str:
         """Strip time portion from ISO dates like '1995-01-01T08:00:00Z' -> '1995-01-01'."""
@@ -161,7 +176,7 @@ class HydrabaseClient:
                 tracks.append(Track(
                     id=str(item.get('id', '')),
                     name=item.get('name', ''),
-                    artists=item.get('artists', []),
+                    artists=self._normalize_artists(item.get('artists', [])),
                     album=item.get('album', ''),
                     duration_ms=item.get('duration_ms', 0),
                     popularity=item.get('popularity', 0),
@@ -210,7 +225,7 @@ class HydrabaseClient:
                 albums.append(Album(
                     id=str(item.get('soul_id', item.get('id', ''))),
                     name=item.get('name', ''),
-                    artists=item.get('artists', []),
+                    artists=self._normalize_artists(item.get('artists', [])),
                     release_date=self._normalize_release_date(item.get('release_date', '')),
                     total_tracks=item.get('total_tracks', 0),
                     album_type=item.get('album_type', 'album'),
@@ -235,7 +250,7 @@ class HydrabaseClient:
                 albums.append(Album(
                     id=str(item.get('soul_id', item.get('id', ''))),
                     name=item.get('name', ''),
-                    artists=item.get('artists', []),
+                    artists=self._normalize_artists(item.get('artists', [])),
                     release_date=self._normalize_release_date(item.get('release_date', '')),
                     total_tracks=item.get('total_tracks', 0),
                     album_type=item.get('album_type', 'album'),
@@ -376,7 +391,7 @@ class HydrabaseClient:
                 tracks.append(Track(
                     id=str(item.get('id', '')),
                     name=item.get('name', ''),
-                    artists=item.get('artists', []),
+                    artists=self._normalize_artists(item.get('artists', [])),
                     album=item.get('album', ''),
                     duration_ms=item.get('duration_ms', 0),
                     popularity=item.get('popularity', 0),
@@ -504,7 +519,7 @@ class HydrabaseClient:
                 albums.append(Album(
                     id=str(item.get('soul_id', item.get('id', ''))),
                     name=item.get('name', ''),
-                    artists=item.get('artists', []),
+                    artists=self._normalize_artists(item.get('artists', [])),
                     release_date=self._normalize_release_date(item.get('release_date', '')),
                     total_tracks=item.get('total_tracks', 0),
                     album_type=item_type,
diff --git a/web_server.py b/web_server.py
index 4ff6d69d..89359f84 100644
--- a/web_server.py
+++ b/web_server.py
@@ -7006,8 +7006,7 @@ def enhanced_search():
 
         # Determine which alternate sources are available (for frontend to fetch async)
         spotify_available = bool(spotify_client and spotify_client.is_spotify_authenticated())
-        hydrabase_available = bool(hydrabase_client and hydrabase_client.is_connected()
-                                   and (dev_mode_enabled or config_manager.get('hydrabase.enabled', False)))
+        hydrabase_available = bool(hydrabase_client and hydrabase_client.is_connected())
         alternate_sources = []
         if primary_source != 'spotify' and spotify_available:
             alternate_sources.append('spotify')
diff --git a/webui/static/script.js b/webui/static/script.js
index c981c7a1..c7f33915 100644
--- a/webui/static/script.js
+++ b/webui/static/script.js
@@ -7574,7 +7574,7 @@ function initializeSearchModeToggle() {
         // Fire ALL source fetches immediately in parallel with the primary endpoint.
         // Don't guess which is primary — the main endpoint response will tell us.
         // If an alternate duplicates the primary, it just overwrites with same data.
-        for (const srcName of ['spotify', 'itunes', 'deezer']) {
+        for (const srcName of ['spotify', 'itunes', 'deezer', 'hydrabase']) {
             _fetchAlternateSource(srcName, query);
         }