It sounds like you need String::Approx, using amatch with a modified edit distance of 3. Tie::Hash::Approx might be even better except that it doesn't allow you to modify the edit distance, and the default distance of 10% is too close for what you are asking for. Perhaps a hand-hacked version of it with a different compare function would do?

Modified to include CPAN refs and an additional comment.

In reply to Re: Comparing Approximate Items by tall_man
in thread Comparing Approximate Items by artist

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