At PlaylisterUK, we take the accuracy of our music journalism seriously. Our fact-checking process is woven into every stage of production, from initial reporting through to final sign-off. We aim to give readers confidence that what they read is verified, sourced and clearly distinguished from speculation. This policy sets out what we check, how we prioritise sources, and how we handle corrections.
What we verify before publication
Every piece of information that appears in a news story, feature, review, playlist description or analysis is checked against at least one reliable source. The following categories receive particular attention:
- Release dates, artist names, track titles, album credits and songwriting credits
- Tour dates, festival line-ups, venue information and ticket on-sale times
- Chart positions and streaming data (including Official Charts Company figures and streaming platform reports)
- Label announcements, roster changes and distribution details
- Artist statements, direct quotes and attributed remarks
- Legal disputes, allegations, copyright claims and industry conflicts
- Brand partnerships, sponsorship deals and commercial relationships
- Financial claims made by artists, labels or platforms
- Health claims made about musicians or industry figures
- Stories involving minors, public safety or privacy concerns – these are escalated to the Standards & Fact-Checking Lead and reviewed against our Safeguarding Minors Policy
- Any information that could cause reputational harm if inaccurate
Source hierarchy
We apply a clear ranking of sources when verifying facts. Official channels take precedence over secondary or anecdotal material. Our hierarchy, from most reliable to least, is:
- Primary official sources: Artist statements released through verified channels (record label press releases, official website, verified social media accounts), court documents, official chart data from the Official Charts Company or recognised bodies, streaming platform official announcements, direct interviews conducted by PlaylisterUK staff
- Secondary official sources: Tour and festival organiser statements, venue communications, trade bodies (BPI, AIM, PRS for Music), official press conferences and public filings
- Third-party verified sources: Reputable music industry reporters, established trade publications (Music Week, Billboard, NME, The Guardian music section), peer-reviewed industry reports
- First-hand reporting: PlaylisterUK staff attending events, listening sessions, press conferences; verified on-the-ground observations
- Verifiable public social media posts: Only from accounts that are confirmed as belonging to the artist, label or official entity; any screenshots are checked for manipulation
- Rumour or speculation: Never presented as fact; always clearly labelled (see below)
Wherever possible we link directly to the source in the published article. Our full sourcing standards are detailed in our Sources & Standards guide.
Rumour and speculation
Unconfirmed information is never published as fact. If we report on a rumour – for example, a potential festival headliner or an unconfirmed release – the piece will use explicit language such as “according to sources”, “unconfirmed reports suggest” or “the artist has not yet commented”. The speculative nature is made clear in the headline and body. We do not use clickbait phrasing or imply certainty where none exists.
Anonymous sourcing
We avoid anonymous sources wherever possible. If a story relies on a source who cannot be named for strong editorial reasons – such as fear of retaliation, whistleblowing or protection of a vulnerable individual – we require the reporter to share the source’s identity with the editor-in-chief or the Standards & Fact-Checking Lead. The editorial team must be satisfied the source is credible and their information independently verifiable before publication. Anonymous sourcing is never used for attacking an individual’s character or for unsubstantiated gossip.
Role of the Standards & Fact-Checking Lead
Thomas Ellery, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, reviews all sensitive articles before they go live. This covers stories involving legal risk, allegations, personal attacks, health issues, minors or public safety. He also conducts random spot-checks on published articles to ensure our verification process is followed. Thomas can be reached at thomas.ellery@playlisteruk.co.uk.
Reader reports
We welcome readers to flag potential errors. If you spot something that needs correction, please email factcheck@playlisteruk.co.uk. Every report is reviewed by the editorial team, and if the error is confirmed we will correct the record promptly. Our Corrections Policy explains how we amend, update and archive corrections.
This policy sits within our broader editorial framework. For a full overview of our journalistic standards, see the Editorial Policy. To meet the team responsible for fact-checking, visit Our Team – each editor’s responsibility is clearly listed.