libspotify API: Any simple way to get artist URI by a given artist name?

Question

To get artist URI by a given artist name, the only way I could think of is to

1. search artist:$artistname;
2. compare the input $artistname with the artist name from the search results.
3. if 2. matches, get the artist URI.

Is there any simpler way to get the artist URI?

Thanks.

Answer 1

In a word: No. The API doesn't work that way I'm afraid.