diff --git a/crates/qbz-slint/src/artist.rs b/crates/qbz-slint/src/artist.rs
index 094ca8345..1f382ec62 100644
--- a/crates/qbz-slint/src/artist.rs
+++ b/crates/qbz-slint/src/artist.rs
@@ -555,11 +555,14 @@ pub struct MbOrigin {
     pub location_clickable: bool,
 }
 
-/// Reset the network sidebar's MB-driven state. Called when the artist
-/// changes so a stale Origin/Relationships/Discovery never bleeds
-/// across artists.
+/// Reset the network sidebar's MB-driven state and force-open the
+/// panel. Called when the artist changes so a stale Origin /
+/// Relationships / Discovery never bleeds across artists, and so the
+/// sidebar always starts open on every artist visit (per user policy
+/// — close is per-session, never persisted).
 pub fn reset_network_sidebar(window: &AppWindow) {
     let state = window.global::<NetworkSidebarState>();
+    state.set_open(true);
     state.set_mb_available(true);
     state.set_mb_mbid("".into());
     state.set_origin_loading(false);
diff --git a/crates/qbz-slint/src/main.rs b/crates/qbz-slint/src/main.rs
index c8598b3c2..f24f56775 100644
--- a/crates/qbz-slint/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/qbz-slint/src/main.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ mod commands;
 mod discovery_dismiss;
 mod home;
 mod nav;
-mod network_sidebar_prefs;
 mod playback;
 mod queue;
 mod recently;
@@ -1167,24 +1166,14 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
             });
     }
 
-    // Artist network sidebar — load the persisted open/closed flag
-    // (defaults to true on first launch), then persist on every toggle.
-    // The Slint side flips NetworkSidebarState.open before emitting
-    // the callback.
+    // Artist network sidebar — no persistence. Default open, user can
+    // close per-session, and reset_network_sidebar reopens it on every
+    // artist navigation. The toggle callback stays a no-op on the
+    // Rust side — Slint already flips NetworkSidebarState.open
+    // directly in the click handler.
     window
-        .global::<NetworkSidebarState>()
-        .set_open(network_sidebar_prefs::load_open());
-    {
-        let weak = window.as_weak();
-        window
-            .global::<NetworkSidebarActions>()
-            .on_toggle(move || {
-                if let Some(w) = weak.upgrade() {
-                    let open = w.global::<NetworkSidebarState>().get_open();
-                    network_sidebar_prefs::set_open(open);
-                }
-            });
-    }
+        .global::<NetworkSidebarActions>()
+        .on_toggle(|| {});
 
     // Network sidebar — typed click callbacks. Each delivers the
     // minimum payload the future target views (ArtistsByLocation,
diff --git a/crates/qbz-slint/src/network_sidebar_prefs.rs b/crates/qbz-slint/src/network_sidebar_prefs.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 52eb77f64..000000000
--- a/crates/qbz-slint/src/network_sidebar_prefs.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,69 +0,0 @@
-//! Persistence for the artist network sidebar open/closed preference.
-//!
-//! A tiny JSON file at the shared QBZ data path so the sidebar reopens
-//! in the same state the user left it. Loaded on demand; written on
-//! every toggle. Failures degrade silently — at worst the sidebar
-//! starts closed on the next launch.
-
-use std::path::PathBuf;
-
-use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
-struct Prefs {
-    #[serde(default = "default_open")]
-    open: bool,
-}
-
-fn default_open() -> bool {
-    true
-}
-
-impl Default for Prefs {
-    fn default() -> Self {
-        Self { open: true }
-    }
-}
-
-fn store_path() -> Option<PathBuf> {
-    Some(dirs::data_dir()?.join("qbz").join("network_sidebar.json"))
-}
-
-/// Read the persisted open/closed flag. Defaults to `true` (open) on a
-/// fresh install — the artist network sidebar is one of the visible
-/// improvements over a generic Linux music player, so it should be on
-/// out of the box until the user closes it.
-pub fn load_open() -> bool {
-    let Some(path) = store_path() else {
-        return true;
-    };
-    match std::fs::read(&path) {
-        Ok(bytes) => serde_json::from_slice::<Prefs>(&bytes)
-            .map(|p| p.open)
-            .unwrap_or(true),
-        Err(_) => true,
-    }
-}
-
-/// Persist the open/closed flag. Called on every sidebar toggle.
-#[allow(dead_code)] // wired by the artist controller in phase 3 (network button)
-pub fn set_open(open: bool) {
-    let Some(path) = store_path() else {
-        return;
-    };
-    if let Some(parent) = path.parent() {
-        if let Err(e) = std::fs::create_dir_all(parent) {
-            log::warn!("[qbz-slint] network-sidebar prefs dir failed: {e}");
-            return;
-        }
-    }
-    let prefs = Prefs { open };
-    match serde_json::to_vec_pretty(&prefs) {
-        Ok(json) => {
-            if let Err(e) = std::fs::write(&path, json) {
-                log::warn!("[qbz-slint] network-sidebar prefs write failed: {e}");
-            }
-        }
-        Err(e) => log::warn!("[qbz-slint] network-sidebar prefs serialize failed: {e}"),
-    }
-}
diff --git a/crates/qbz-slint/ui/artist/ArtistPageView.slint b/crates/qbz-slint/ui/artist/ArtistPageView.slint
index 9b8cbcd09..5b2bd296d 100644
--- a/crates/qbz-slint/ui/artist/ArtistPageView.slint
+++ b/crates/qbz-slint/ui/artist/ArtistPageView.slint
@@ -601,10 +601,16 @@ export component ArtistPageView inherits Rectangle {
             width: 300px;
             spacing: 0px;
 
-            // 44px to clear the NavButtons row at the top of the
-            // artist body — mirrors Tauri's sticky jump-nav offset
-            // (`top: 44px`).
-            Rectangle { height: 44px; }
+            // Top inset clears the entire artist header — NavButtons
+            // (11 padding + ~32 row + 22 spacer = 65) + the artist
+            // header itself (~214px: ARTIST label + name + truncated
+            // bio + Read more + action buttons) + the 36px spacer
+            // before Popular Tracks. Total ~315px so the sidebar's
+            // top edge sits inline with where Popular Tracks starts,
+            // matching Tauri's `.network-sidebar-column` natural flow
+            // position (inside the body, alongside the sections —
+            // never overlapping the artist header).
+            Rectangle { height: 320px; }
 
             sidebar-panel := Rectangle {
                 vertical-stretch: 1;