Network-side and client-side systems and techniques for managing metadata items describing digital media content available from a number of digital media content sources are described. Disparate metadata items are collected and transcribed based on a common format. The common format facilitates computerized cataloging, searching, and presentation of relevant metadata and/or digital content via a wide variety of client-side devices. The common format includes: a portion for storing descriptive data derived from the original metadata items; a portion for storing data specific to the digital media content source supplying the original metadata; and a services specifier portion used for accessing specific digital media content. The common format may be used to identify relationships between transcribed items of metadata based on virtually unlimited selection criteria, and to facilitate the creation and presentation to users of data sets of related metadata and/or digital media content.