Editorial & Sponsored Content Policy

1. Why this policy exists

A platform that sells its rankings is worthless to readers. Sponsors who fund TBI know this — it's why they pay to be near our editorial work, not to alter it. This policy describes that line so readers, sponsors, and our own team all know where it is.

2. What counts as sponsored content

We use "sponsored content" to mean anything on TBI that exists because someone paid for it to exist:

If something on TBI exists because money changed hands, you will see one of these labels on it. No exceptions.

3. What is NOT sponsored content

The following are independent editorial work and are never influenced by sponsors:

• Band rankings (influence, engagement, lineup ordering, search results)
• Genre hubs and sub-genre classification
• Festival lineups and accuracy (we list whoever is on the bill, not whoever pays)
• Editorial articles, lists, and explainers not labeled "Sponsored"
• Newsletter editorial sections (the parts not labeled "Sponsored")
• Recommendation algorithms (no paid placement in "you may also like")

A sponsor who pays for a module on a festival page buys placement next to our editorial work. They do not buy the editorial work.

4. The line: what sponsors can and cannot influence

Sponsors CAN: choose which surface their placement appears on; provide their own creative (logo, headline, copy, CTA, image); suggest band picks for a curated module (subject to editorial sign-off, below); request a sponsored editorial piece (subject to §5); see their performance reporting; request in-category exclusivity per their agreement.

Sponsors CANNOT: pay to be ranked higher in any listing; pay to remove or de-rank competitors, critical coverage, or unflattering data; pay to influence lineup, search, or recommendation ordering; pay to alter or remove non-sponsored editorial; pay to be the subject of an unlabeled editorial article; see or approve our editorial coverage of them or their category before publication; have their sponsorship status considered when our editorial team writes about them.

If a sponsor asks for any of the above, we say no. If they insist, we walk away from the deal — and we've written this into our sponsor agreement so there's no ambiguity.

Editorial sign-off on sponsor-suggested band picks. For modules with curated picks (e.g., "5 bands [Sponsor] thinks you'll love"), sponsors may suggest the list, but TBI editorial may: reject bands that aren't a credible fit for the surface; reject bands the sponsor has an undisclosed commercial relationship with that would mislead readers; require disclosure where a relationship would surprise readers; and limit how many sponsor-suggested bands sit adjacent to organic recommendations. If we reject a suggestion, we propose alternates. Editorial sign-off decisions are normal quality control and not grounds for a refund.

5. Sponsored editorial pieces — additional rules

A "sponsored editorial piece" is an article, playlist, or video that exists because a sponsor paid for it. These carry a higher bar because they read like editorial.

We require: top-of-article disclosure ("Sponsored · Created with [Sponsor]") in the same visual weight as the byline, above the fold; a real topic readers actually want, not a wrapper for marketing copy; editorial fit with our rock/metal/heavy focus; a TBI staff or contracted byline (never the sponsor or its agency); sponsor mentions limited to the top disclosure and a bottom CTA, plus body mentions only where editorially relevant; no fabricated quotes, reviews, or data; and eligibility under our corrections policy (§9).

We don't accept: pieces whose whole purpose is to position the sponsor's product (those are modules, not editorial); "best of" lists ranked by sponsor preference; articles that name-compare the sponsor favorably to competitors; articles dressed as news but timed to a launch without disclosing the trigger; or drafts edited by the sponsor's marketing team in ways that change editorial content.

Sponsor's review pass, narrowly scoped. Sponsors get one review pass limited to: verifying facts about them (specs, dates, names), confirming correct use of their marks, and flagging legal/IP concerns. Sponsors do not get approval over editorial framing, tone, or angle; quotes or characterizations of bands, scenes, or other companies; length, headline, or pull quotes; or the decision to publish. (If TBI cancels a piece post-approval over accuracy or fit, the placement fee is refunded per the sponsor agreement.)

6. Affiliate and commerce links

If TBI adds affiliate links (merch, vinyl, gear, tickets) where we earn a commission: every such link is labeled "Affiliate link — TBI may earn a commission" in context; affiliate revenue never alters editorial content; our affiliate affiliations are listed in the site footer; and we never link to counterfeit goods or unlicensed merchandise. As of v1.0, TBI does not run an active affiliate program — this section is reserved for when we do.

7. Gifted products, press passes, comps, and travel

We cover categories where labels, festivals, and brands routinely send promo material, so we have rules.

We accept (no disclosure needed): album streams / promo links; modest event hospitality (catered media areas, soft drinks).

We accept with disclosure: press passes ("TBI attended [Festival] with a press credential provided by [Promoter]"); embargoed pre-release access; loaner gear ("Review unit provided by [Brand]; returned [date]"); travel and lodging for coverage ("TBI's travel and lodging at [Festival] were provided by [Promoter]"); gifted gear we keep; tickets above face value (VIP packages).

We don't accept: cash or cash equivalents (gift cards, crypto); equity, royalties, or commissions on band sales in exchange for coverage; personal favors tied to coverage; anonymous gifts (if we can't identify the source, we can't disclose it).

If you see TBI coverage that should carry a disclosure and doesn't, write to us (§9).

8. Conflicts of interest

Staff and contractors must disclose to TBI editorial, before writing about a subject, any of: employment/equity/payment from the subject (themselves or immediate family); a personal relationship with the subject; or an outstanding professional grievance. In most cases the writer recuses and another covers the story; where the conflict is editorially relevant, we may proceed with inline disclosure.

Founder. Because TBI is founder-operated, the founder publicly discloses any personal financial relationships with bands, labels, festivals, brands, or promoters covered by TBI editorial. As of May 22, 2026, the founder discloses no equity, ownership, employment, royalty, or compensated relationship with any band, label, festival, promoter, or brand covered by TBI editorial. This disclosure is updated when relationships change.

Sponsor relationships and coverage. A TBI sponsor is not disqualified from editorial coverage. We commit that: coverage of a sponsor meets the same bar as coverage of anyone else; where a current sponsor is the subject of an editorial (not sponsored) piece, we add "[Sponsor] is a current sponsor of TBI; this article was not influenced by that relationship."; critical coverage of a sponsor is never blocked, modified, or delayed because of the relationship; and a sponsor's choice to end sponsorship over coverage is their right — we don't negotiate coverage in exchange for sponsorship continuation.

9. Corrections, complaints, and reader concerns

Corrections. Material factual errors are corrected within 24 hours of verification, with a "Correction:" note describing what changed. Typos/minor errors are corrected silently. Headline errors carry a "Headline updated:" note. We do not silently rewrite articles after publication to flatter sponsors or anyone else; material post-publication edits are disclosed.

How to flag something. If you see unlabeled sponsored content, an undisclosed conflict, a factual error, or a missed correction, email [email protected]. We aim to respond within 5 business days.

Reader trust over sponsor revenue. If we ever face a choice between a sponsor relationship and a reader's trust, the reader wins. We've designed our business model (founding-sponsor pricing, multi-sponsor diversification, no single sponsor exceeding ~20% of revenue at maturity) so that choice is never forced on us in a survival sense.

10. Policy governance

This policy is versioned and dated; each material change is logged below. Only the founder (post-incorporation, the editorial lead and founder jointly) can change it — sponsors have no input. We revise it whenever we find a gap, whenever a sponsor relationship reveals an ambiguity, and at least once a year on scheduled review.

The following are not subject to revision short of TBI fundamentally changing what it is: band rankings are never for sale; sponsored content is always visibly labeled; editorial reserves sign-off on sponsor-suggested content; sponsors do not get pre-publication review of non-sponsored coverage of them.

11. Change log