TuneLab has been reviewing albums for years now. Sometimes these albums are those that we have purchased, most of the time the albums have been sent to us in physical or digital form. The review is NEVER affected by the manner in which we receive said album.
The Federal Trade Commission just voted that as of December 1st, bloggers (which we fall under technically) must “clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products.” (emphasis ours)
That’s kind of a tricky way of saying it. TuneLab does not get albums “for” reviewing an album. Well, it depends on which way you take it. We believe that the language is intended to mean getting albums as payment for, or as a thank you for, reviewing an album. In that case, we’re in the clear, because we do not accept gifts in exchange for album reviews. Obviously, we get sent the album “for a review, as in “in order to do a”. But again, it doesn’t impact its rating or manner of review.
On average, we probably review about 10% of the albums sent to us. They are sent unsolicited, and honestly about half don’t even fall under “rock”.
Whether or not we have to put a disclaimer on every review that came from an album sent to us as of December 1st is up for a lawyer to decide, but we have no problem coming right out with a preemptive disclaimer anyway. So yes, we get [some] albums for free, but not as a gift or payment, and it does not affect the review in any way.
Frigging FTC. What are you gonna do though?.
like i said i read reviews but i usually Already “own” said album. To me a review is a review. It’s just someones “educated” opinion about said album. I don’t go looking for reviews. If and when i do read a Review it’s almost always Here.
why?, Not just “home base love” but Nick is a “Great” Reviewer
who knows what he’s talking about least he seems to.
whether he got the album for “Free” doesn’t matter to me
he seems “unbiased” and “honest”.
Also again i usually read Reviews after i already “own” it.
even if i read a “Bad” Review or several “bad” reviews i still might go out and buy it to form my own opinion. I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve bought something after reading “bad reviews” and never usually end up encountering what people complained about. So in the end it’s up to you.
no ones know what you’ll like better then yourself Right?.
Anyway jay,mikel,nick keep doing what your doing
you guys have been doing an “awesome” job.
I sick of all this “legal crap” the goes with running most websites. That’s why i pick Tunelab as my “main Hub” for Music news. For it’s simple “straight to the point” News.
I can tell you i wanted to start a Website before i knew about Tunelab but never got the time or cash to pull it together. After stumbling across Tunelab I flat out give up.
theirs was no point i wanted something then find someone already made it so i joined and have been happy since.
Anyway Keep it up Guys.
Also you give a hell of a job better then what i would of made i sure.
how knows maybe i still make one and when could compete
haha i kidding or am i?
ok, The formatting for that got fucked Up didn’t know it was gonna end up looking like that. i Wrote it much better then that least i think i did.
mayvix u rock man thank you
its just a shame that the reviewers, especially those like myself who write reviews not just to offer constructive, educated criticisms but to get fans excited about the music thats hitting the streets are being probed for some payola-esque related bs that has NOTHING TO DO AT ALL with what i say, how i say it, or to whom i direct what i say in a review
and as for the unsolicited reviews, lets just put it this way-i got an album from some guy and it was called ‘pills & ammo’.now whats gonna motivate me at all to even open the plastic and waste my time? basically, if i want to review your record, i’ll seek it out and study it myself.because a reviewers job isnt just to itemize the yays and nays of an album.