Last updated: August 1, 2026
AudioDaily is an independent publication devoted to recorded music, performance, sound quality, music history and listening culture. This page explains how editorial decisions are made, how recordings and other materials are reviewed, and how commercial relationships are handled.
Editorial independence
AudioDaily’s editorial opinions are determined solely by its editor and contributors. Record labels, artists, publicists, retailers, streaming services, affiliate partners and advertisers do not receive advance approval of reviews and do not control AudioDaily’s conclusions, recommendations or choice of coverage.
Positive coverage cannot be purchased. Payment, advertising, affiliate participation or the provision of complimentary materials does not guarantee that an item will be reviewed or mentioned.
AudioDaily may decline to cover any release, performance, product or subject at its discretion.
Review copies and complimentary access
AudioDaily may receive complimentary review copies, promotional downloads, streaming access, and press materials from artists, labels, publishers, publicists and arts organizations. Receiving such materials does not guarantee coverage or favourable treatment. It is normal practice in music and arts journalism for publications to receive review materials without charge.
Where a complimentary ticket, product or other benefit is unusually significant and could reasonably be considered relevant to the reader’s assessment of the article, AudioDaily will disclose it within or near the published coverage.
Unless otherwise stated, physical review copies are not returned.
Reviews and recommendations
Reviews published by AudioDaily reflect the writer’s informed critical judgement at the time of publication.
Assessments may consider:
- musical interpretation and performance;
- repertoire and programming;
- recording, mastering and production quality;
- spatial, surround or Dolby Atmos production;
- edition, format and presentation;
- historical context;
- value and availability; and
- comparison with other recordings or performances.
Reviews are not presented as mathematically objective rankings. They are critical evaluations based on listening, research, experience and individual judgement.
AudioDaily may recommend a recording while criticizing aspects of its performance, sound, presentation or marketing. It may also discuss historically important recordings whose technical quality or availability is limited.
Listening sources and equipment
AudioDaily may evaluate recordings using physical media, downloaded files, streaming services, broadcast sources, promotional files or publicly available audio and video.
Where the source or format materially affects the assessment, AudioDaily will identify it when practical. This is particularly relevant when discussing remastering, high-resolution audio, surround sound, Dolby Atmos, historical transfers or differences between releases.
Playback equipment, room acoustics, streaming settings and individual hearing can affect the listening experience. Descriptions of sound quality reflect the conditions under which the material was evaluated and may not be identical on every system.
Research and factual accuracy
AudioDaily aims to distinguish clearly between:
- documented facts;
- critical opinion;
- reasonable inference;
- promotional claims; and
- information that remains uncertain or disputed.
Sources may include recordings, scores, books, scholarly publications, archives, interviews, record-label documentation, artist materials, reputable journalism and official websites.
Promotional statements are not normally treated as verified facts. Where evidence is incomplete or conflicting, AudioDaily will attempt to describe the uncertainty rather than present speculation as established fact.
Corrections and updates
AudioDaily welcomes notification of factual errors.
When a material error is confirmed, the article will be corrected as promptly as practical. Significant corrections may be identified within the article or in an editor’s note. Minor spelling, formatting or stylistic changes may be made without a separate notice.
Articles may also be updated to reflect newly available recordings, corrected release information, restored links, subsequent events or improved research. The presence of an update does not necessarily mean that the original article contained an error.
Correction requests may be submitted through the Contact page. Please identify the article and provide the relevant supporting information.
Affiliate links
Some AudioDaily articles contain affiliate or referral links. AudioDaily may receive a commission when a reader follows one of these links and completes a qualifying purchase, subscription or membership. Affiliate relationships do not determine which recordings, products or services receive coverage, and they do not affect the substance of a review.
A recording or product may be recommended whether or not an affiliate link is available. AudioDaily may also criticize or advise against a product that is available through an affiliate partner. Readers do not normally pay a higher price because they followed an affiliate link.
Additional information appears in AudioDaily’s Affiliate Disclosure.
Advertising and sponsored content
Advertising, sponsorship and paid promotional material will be kept distinct from independent editorial coverage. Any sponsored article or paid placement will be identified clearly as advertising, sponsored content or a commercial partnership. Sponsors will not be permitted to present paid material as an independent AudioDaily review.
AudioDaily does not offer paid positive reviews or paid inclusion in editorial recommendation lists.
Conflicts of interest
AudioDaily will disclose a personal, professional or financial relationship when it could reasonably be expected to influence – or appear to influence – the coverage.
Examples may include:
- a close personal relationship with a performer or creator;
- direct participation in the recording or production being discussed;
- paid consulting or professional work for an organization covered;
- ownership of a substantial financial interest related to the subject; or
- receipt of an unusual gift, benefit or hospitality.
Routine receipt of review copies, press releases or ordinary promotional access is addressed under the review-copy section above and is not normally disclosed in every article.
Interviews and quotations
Interview subjects may be given an opportunity to confirm names, dates, technical details or the accuracy of attributed quotations. They are not normally given editorial control over the completed article.
AudioDaily may edit quotations for length and clarity, provided that their meaning is not materially changed.
Artificial intelligence and editorial responsibility
AudioDaily may use digital research, transcription, editing or artificial-intelligence tools to assist with tasks such as organizing notes, checking wording, or identifying research leads. Artificial-intelligence output is not treated as a reliable factual source without additional verification. Published material on this site is not “authored” by AI tools: all articles and commentary are written by the author, generally Kevin Elliott, and are the result of all-too-human editorial judgement and review. AudioDaily is responsible for the accuracy, interpretation and opinions presented under its name.
Contact
Questions about this policy, correction requests or concerns about a possible conflict of interest may be submitted through the Contact page.