At PlaylisterUK.co.uk, we want your experience of discovering new music, reading about your favourite artists and keeping up with UK music culture to be as smooth and personalised as possible. To help us do that, we use cookies – small text files placed on your device by your web browser. Cookies allow the site to remember your preferences, analyse how you interact with our content, and, where you have consented, serve relevant advertising and support our affiliate links. This policy explains what cookies we use, why we use them, and how you can control them. It forms part of our broader commitment to your privacy, which is set out in our Privacy Policy.
What are cookies?
Cookies are tiny data files stored on your computer, tablet or phone when you visit a website. They perform a range of functions, from remembering that you have logged in to helping us understand which articles and playlists are most popular. Some cookies are deleted when you close your browser (session cookies), while others remain for a longer period (persistent cookies) so we can recognise you on return visits.
Cookie categories we use
Essential cookies
These cookies are necessary for the basic operation of the site. They enable you to navigate pages, access secure areas (such as the newsletter sign-up), and use core features like the playlist player and search. Without them, the site cannot function properly. Essential cookies do not require your consent, but we still want you to know they are there.
Analytics cookies
We use analytics tools (including Google Analytics and internal measurement) to understand how readers find and engage with our content – which news stories, artist features or playlist guides are most read, how long you stay, and what device or browser you use. This data helps us improve the site and tailor our editorial coverage to what interests you most. Analytics cookies are non-essential and are only placed with your consent.
Advertising cookies
PlaylisterUK.co.uk is supported in part by display advertising. We and our advertising partners may use cookies to show you adverts that are relevant to your interests, limit the number of times you see a particular ad, and measure the effectiveness of campaigns. These cookies track your browsing activity across different sites. We only use them after you have given your consent.
Affiliate tracking cookies (including ticketing and music platform affiliates)
When you click on a link to a ticket seller (such as Ticketmaster, See Tickets or Skiddle) or a music platform partner (like Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon Music) and make a purchase or stream, we may earn a small commission. To attribute that commission correctly, affiliate tracking cookies are placed on your device. These cookies remember that you came from PlaylisterUK.co.uk and are strictly limited to the affiliate journey. They are non-essential and require your consent. You can read more about how we manage these relationships in our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure.
Embedded media cookies
Our articles and playlists often include embedded content from third-party platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, Apple Music, Bandcamp and social media channels (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok). When you interact with an embedded player or widget, the platform that hosts that content may set its own cookies for playback functionality, analytics and personalisation. We do not control these third-party cookies; you should check the relevant platform’s cookie policy for more information. We only load embedded media after you have consented to non-essential cookies, unless you explicitly click to play an embed.
Your consent and how to manage preferences
When you first visit PlaylisterUK.co.uk, you will see a cookie consent banner that asks you to accept or decline non-essential cookies. This is required for visitors from the UK and EU under data protection law. You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the “Cookie Settings” link in the footer of every page (or by revisiting the consent banner through your browser settings).
In addition, most browsers allow you to manage cookie settings directly: you can choose to block all cookies, delete existing cookies, or be notified when a cookie is set. Please note that disabling essential cookies may affect the functionality of the site. Instructions for common browsers can be found in your browser’s help section.
Retention
The retention period for each cookie varies. Essential and analytics cookies are typically stored for up to 12 months; advertising and affiliate cookies may persist for a shorter period (often 30 days for ticket affiliate cookies). We review our cookie inventory regularly and remove obsolete cookies. No sensitive personal data (such as your name, email address or payment details) is stored directly in a cookie.
More information
For full details on how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy. If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, contact our privacy team at privacy@playlisteruk.co.uk. Alternatively, you can reach us through our Contact page. You may also be interested in learning more about PlaylisterUK.co.uk, our editorial standards and how we fund the site.