Editorial Standards

Version 1.0.0 · Updated at August 31, 2026 · Effective from August 31, 2026

Niche Music publishes editorials, artist spotlights, reviews, interviews, recommendations, news, features, and other written content about music and culture.

These standards explain how we approach that work.

Our goal is simple: publish work that is accurate, independent, transparent, original, and worth reading.

These standards apply to Niche Music writers, editors, contributors, and anyone producing editorial content on behalf of Niche Music.

1. Editorial Independence

Our editorial decisions are made independently.

Artists, labels, managers, publicists, advertisers, sponsors, partners, and other outside parties do not receive control over our editorial opinions simply because they work with, advertise with, or provide content to Niche Music.

Payment, sponsorship, access, free products, early releases, interviews, or other relationships do not guarantee:

We may accept suggestions, pitches, press releases, advance releases, interview opportunities, and promotional materials, but those materials do not determine what we write.

Writers and editors are expected to reach their own conclusions.

2. Reviews Are Independent Opinions

Reviews published by Niche Music reflect the judgment of the writer and editorial team involved.

A review may be positive, negative, mixed, or critical.

Artists and their representatives may not:

If an artist, label, or other party pays Niche Music for promotional exposure, that content must be clearly separated from independent reviews and labeled appropriately.

Sponsored relationships do not prevent us from reviewing an artist independently.

3. Sponsored and Paid Content

Readers should be able to tell when money or another material benefit influenced why a piece of content exists.

Sponsored content, paid partnerships, advertisements, and other commercial arrangements must be clearly labeled.

Labels may include terms such as:

The disclosure should be visible and understandable before or near the beginning of the content.

We do not intentionally disguise advertisements as independent journalism.

Sponsored content may still be subject to Niche Music's basic standards for accuracy, safety, and quality.

A sponsor may provide factual information, assets, or campaign requirements, but sponsored content should not make claims that we know to be false or misleading.

4. Sponsored Coverage vs. Editorial Coverage

Receiving money from an artist, label, company, or partner does not give that party ownership over unrelated editorial coverage.

For example:

If an artist pays Niche Music to promote a release, that artist does not automatically receive a positive independent review.

Similarly, an advertiser may not require Niche Music to suppress unrelated legitimate criticism as a condition of advertising.

When practical, advertising and editorial decisions should be kept separate.

5. Conflicts of Interest

Writers and editors should avoid covering subjects where a personal, financial, or professional relationship would reasonably call their independence into question.

Potential conflicts may include:

A minor or ordinary interaction with an artist does not necessarily create a conflict.

For example, interviewing an artist previously, receiving a press email, attending a public show, or communicating with an artist about coverage does not automatically prevent future reporting.

When a meaningful conflict exists, we may:

Writers are expected to tell an editor about potential conflicts before publication.

6. Niche Music and Artists Featured on the Platform

Niche Music is both a music platform and an editorial publisher.

Some artists covered editorially may also distribute music through Niche Music, participate in platform programs, appear in promotional campaigns, or otherwise work with Niche Music.

That relationship alone does not guarantee favorable editorial treatment.

Where a relationship is substantial enough that a reasonable reader would consider it relevant, we should disclose it.

7. Accuracy

We aim to publish accurate information.

Writers should make reasonable efforts to verify factual claims before publication, particularly claims involving:

Opinion does not need to be "verified" in the same way as factual reporting, but opinions should not be built on factual claims that we know are false.

8. Primary and Reliable Sources

Whenever reasonably possible, writers should prefer direct or reliable sources.

Useful sources may include:

Writers should be cautious with:

A source being widely repeated does not automatically make it true.

9. Attribution

Information, reporting, quotes, photographs, ideas, or analysis taken from another source should be attributed when appropriate.

Writers should not present another publication's original reporting as Niche Music's own reporting.

If another outlet broke a story or conducted the interview from which important information comes, credit should be given.

Direct quotations must be accurately represented and should not be altered in a way that changes their meaning.

Minor edits for clarity, such as removing filler words from an interview transcript, may be made when they do not change the substance of the statement.

10. Plagiarism

Plagiarism is not allowed.

Writers may not:

Common facts do not belong to any single publication, but original wording, reporting, analysis, and structure should be respected.

Significant plagiarism may result in removal of the article and the writer losing the ability to contribute to Niche Music.

11. Reviews, Criticism, and Subjectivity

Music criticism is inherently subjective.

Writers are allowed to strongly dislike a song, album, performance, or creative decision.

Criticism should focus primarily on the work rather than personal attacks against the person who made it.

Strong language, humor, and personality are allowed.

However, reviews should not rely on:

A negative opinion is not itself unfair treatment.

Artists do not have a right to have negative criticism removed simply because they disagree with it.

12. Review Scores

If Niche Music uses numerical scores, ratings, rankings, or similar systems, those scores represent editorial judgment rather than objective measurements.

Scores should not be influenced by:

Different writers may reasonably rate the same work differently.

13. Advance Access and Embargoes

Niche Music may receive albums, songs, videos, announcements, or other materials before their public release.

We may agree to reasonable embargoes stating when information may be published.

Accepting an embargo does not require us to publish coverage or make that coverage positive.

We should not knowingly violate a clearly agreed-upon embargo except where there is an overriding public-interest reason and editorial leadership determines publication is justified.

14. Interviews

Interview subjects should understand whether a conversation is:

Unless agreed otherwise beforehand, interviews conducted for publication should generally be considered on the record.

We do not normally give interview subjects complete editorial approval over finished articles.

We may allow a source to verify:

Fact-checking is not the same as giving a source control over the article.

15. Quotes

Quotes should accurately represent what a person said.

We may lightly edit quotations for readability when doing so does not change their meaning.

We should not:

If a quote has been translated, paraphrased, or significantly edited, that should be made clear where appropriate.

16. Anonymous Sources

Anonymous sources should be used carefully.

When information could reasonably be obtained on the record, that is preferable.

Anonymous sourcing may be appropriate where:

Writers should make reasonable efforts to verify significant claims from anonymous sources.

The identity of a confidential source should not be disclosed publicly without that source's permission unless required by law.

17. Rumors and Unverified Claims

Niche Music should not present rumors as confirmed facts.

If reporting on an unverified claim is itself newsworthy, the uncertainty should be made clear.

Language should accurately reflect what is known.

For example, writers should distinguish between:

Headlines should not exaggerate the certainty of the underlying reporting.

18. Allegations and Serious Claims

Claims involving criminal conduct, abuse, misconduct, fraud, or other serious accusations require additional care.

Before publishing significant allegations, writers should make reasonable efforts to:

A person declining to comment does not mean the allegation is true or false.

19. Headlines and Thumbnails

Headlines, thumbnails, captions, and social-media promotion should reasonably reflect the article they represent.

We may use creative, humorous, or attention-grabbing headlines.

However, we should avoid deliberately misleading readers about what happened simply to generate clicks.

A headline should not state something as fact when the article itself says it is uncertain.

20. Corrections

We correct meaningful factual errors.

If we learn that an article contains a material factual mistake, we should fix it within a reasonable period after confirming the error.

Depending on the significance of the correction, we may:

Minor spelling, formatting, grammar, or stylistic corrections generally do not require a public correction notice.

Material corrections should be transparent.

21. Correction Notes

A correction note should explain what was materially wrong and what was corrected.

For example:

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the album was released in June. It was released in July.

We should not silently rewrite major factual mistakes in a way that hides the fact that an error occurred.

22. Retractions

In rare cases, an article may need to be retracted.

This may happen where the central basis of the article is shown to be false, fabricated, plagiarized, or otherwise fundamentally unreliable.

When practical, a retraction notice should remain available explaining why the article was removed rather than pretending the article never existed.

23. Updates

Articles may be updated as new information becomes available.

An update is different from a correction.

An update adds or changes information because circumstances changed after publication.

A correction fixes information that was wrong when originally published.

Material updates should be identified where useful to readers.

24. Right of Reply

When an article includes substantial criticism or serious factual claims about an identifiable person or organization, we may give that person or organization a reasonable opportunity to respond.

This does not mean every negative review requires artist approval or a response.

A musician does not need to be contacted because a reviewer dislikes their album.

The standard is more relevant to significant factual allegations rather than ordinary criticism.

25. Images and Artwork

Images used in Niche Music editorial content should be obtained and used responsibly.

Writers and editors should use images that Niche Music has a reasonable basis to believe it may lawfully publish.

Possible sources include:

An image being publicly visible on Instagram, Google Images, Spotify, or another website does not automatically mean Niche Music has permission to republish it.

When possible, image ownership and licensing should be checked before publication.

26. Image Credits

Photographers, artists, publications, agencies, and other image owners should be credited when required by their license or when editorially appropriate.

Credits should not imply that an image owner endorses Niche Music unless that endorsement actually exists.

If an image is supplied by an artist or publicist, a credit such as "Courtesy of [Artist]" may be used where appropriate.

27. Artist-Provided Assets

Artists may provide:

Niche Music should use these materials only where we reasonably understand that they were supplied for the relevant editorial or promotional use.

Receiving an asset does not automatically give Niche Music unlimited rights to use it forever or for unrelated commercial purposes.

Where necessary, additional permission should be obtained.

28. Graphic or Sensitive Images

Images depicting violence, injury, death, nudity, self-harm, or other sensitive material should only be used when editorially justified.

We should consider:

Shock value alone is not a sufficient editorial reason to publish graphic imagery.

29. AI-Generated Images

AI-generated imagery should not normally be used as if it were authentic documentary photography.

If generative AI imagery is used in an editorial context, it must be clearly labeled as AI-generated.

AI imagery should not be used to falsely depict a real event, artist, interview, performance, or situation as something that actually occurred.

AI-generated sexual imagery or other material prohibited under Niche Music's Community Guidelines may not be used.

30. Artificial Intelligence in Writing

Generative AI may be used as a limited assistive tool, but Niche Music's editorial work must remain substantially human-written and human-edited.

Writers may use AI-assisted tools for things such as:

AI should not be relied upon as the factual source for an article.

Any factual information suggested by an AI system must be independently verified before publication.

31. AI May Not Write Our Articles

Niche Music does not allow generative AI to create complete articles or major portions of editorial work.

Writers may not submit:

The ideas, reporting, opinions, analysis, structure, and writing should substantially come from the human author.

Using AI to proofread a paragraph you wrote is different from asking AI to write the paragraph for you.

32. AI and Reviews

AI should never determine Niche Music's opinion of a song, album, artist, performance, or other creative work.

Reviews must reflect the writer's own listening, interpretation, analysis, and judgment.

A writer may not ask an AI model to review an album and then publish or lightly rewrite that review as their own.

33. AI and Interviews

AI may assist with transcription or organization of an interview.

However:

34. AI and Research

AI tools may help identify areas worth researching, but they are not considered authoritative sources.

Writers should verify information using primary or reliable independent sources.

An AI response should not be cited as evidence for a factual claim where the underlying source can reasonably be located.

35. Disclosure of AI Use

Routine use of tools for spelling, grammar, transcription, or similar minor assistance generally does not require a reader-facing disclosure.

If generative AI plays an unusual or meaningful role in producing a piece, Niche Music should disclose that role.

The disclosure should accurately explain what the technology did.

36. Fabrication

Writers may never knowingly fabricate:

Fabrication is a serious breach of Niche Music's editorial standards.

Content found to contain deliberate fabrication may be removed or retracted, and the contributor may lose permission to publish for Niche Music.

37. Listening Expectations for Reviews

A writer reviewing music should genuinely listen to the work being reviewed.

Writers should not publish a review based only on:

For albums, EPs, or other substantial releases, the writer should engage with enough of the work to support the conclusions being published.

There is no required number of listens, but the writer should be confident that the review fairly reflects their experience with the material.

38. Press Releases

Press releases are useful sources of information, but they are promotional materials.

Information from press releases should not automatically be treated as independent analysis.

Writers should avoid simply rewriting press releases and publishing them as original editorial work.

When appropriate, promotional claims should be independently verified or clearly attributed.

39. Gifts, Free Access, and Promotional Items

Writers may sometimes receive reasonable promotional materials or access, including:

Receiving these things does not guarantee positive coverage.

Expensive gifts, cash, personal payments, or significant benefits offered specifically to influence coverage should be declined.

When a material benefit could reasonably affect how readers interpret coverage, it should be disclosed.

40. Tickets and Events

Press access or complimentary admission may be accepted when reasonably necessary to cover an event.

A writer receiving press access is still expected to provide an independent assessment.

Artists or event organizers may not require positive coverage as a condition of ordinary press access.

If coverage is explicitly purchased, it must be treated as sponsored content rather than an independent review.

41. Writers Covering Friends or Collaborators

Niche Music exists within a relatively small music community, so writers may occasionally know artists they cover.

Simply knowing someone does not automatically prohibit coverage.

However, a writer should disclose the relationship internally when they:

An editor can then determine whether reassignment or a public disclosure is appropriate.

42. Personal Opinions and Social Media

Writers are allowed to have personal opinions and participate in music culture outside their work for Niche Music.

However, writers should avoid representing personal statements as official Niche Music positions unless authorized to do so.

Writers should also consider whether extreme public statements about an artist could create a conflict when later assigned to independently cover that artist.

43. Discrimination

Editorial decisions should not be made based on hostility toward an artist's protected characteristics.

Coverage decisions may legitimately consider factors such as:

Disagreement with an artist's work or public statements does not automatically constitute discrimination.

44. Representation and Respect

Niche Music covers artists and communities with different backgrounds and experiences.

Writers should make reasonable efforts to:

This does not prevent criticism, satire, or discussion of controversial subjects.

45. Editorial Judgment

Not every accurate story must be published.

Editors may consider:

Niche Music is not required to provide editorial coverage to every artist who submits music or contacts us.

46. Removal Requests

Artists and other subjects may ask us to remove or modify editorial content.

We will consider legitimate concerns involving:

We generally will not remove accurate independent criticism merely because the subject dislikes it.

When an error exists, correction is usually preferable to deleting the historical record entirely.

47. Editorial and Promotional Content Must Be Distinguishable

Niche Music may publish both journalism/editorial content and promotional marketing.

Readers should be able to reasonably distinguish between them.

A post written by Niche Music to promote Niche itself, an advertising partner, or a sponsored artist should not intentionally be presented as an independent review.

Editorial design may be similar across different content types, but material commercial relationships should still be disclosed.

48. Corrections From Artists and Readers

Artists, representatives, and readers are encouraged to tell us when they believe something is factually incorrect.

A correction request should ideally identify:

We will review reasonable correction requests.

Submitting a correction request does not guarantee that we will agree with the requested change.

Differences of opinion in reviews generally are not factual errors.

49. Internal Review

Editors may review content before publication for:

Editing should preserve the writer's meaning and voice unless changes are necessary for accuracy, clarity, safety, or quality.

Substantial changes to a writer's argument should normally be discussed with the writer when practical.

50. Editorial Mistakes

We will make mistakes.

The standard is not perfection.

The standard is whether we:

When we get something wrong, we should fix it rather than hide it.

51. Enforcement of These Standards

Violations of these standards may result in:

The response should depend on the seriousness and intent of the violation.

Deliberate fabrication, plagiarism, undisclosed paid influence, or repeated serious violations may result in immediate removal from Niche Music's editorial team.

52. Questions and Corrections

Questions about Niche Music's editorial practices, factual corrections, copyright concerns, or other issues involving our editorial content may be sent to:

Niche Music, LLC
hello@nichemusic.app