Ethics Policy

At The Riff Report, we might be powered by riffs, Red Bull, and righteous sarcasm – but when it comes to journalistic integrity, we don’t mess about. Here’s where we draw the line, paint flames on it, and then headbang in front of it in a totally ethical fashion. 🔥

🎤 1. Honesty Is Louder Than Volume

We tell it how it is – no BS, no sell-outs. Our reviews, posts, and rants are based on real opinions, experiences, and facts (when appropriate – c’mon, we’re not a textbook). Whether we’re reviewing a band, a festival toilet situation, or £9 pints of warm cider, you’ll always get the uncensored truth.

💼 2. Sponsored Content? We’ll Shout About It

If we’re ever paid to promote something – whether it’s a band, merch drop, or a questionable nacho stand – we’ll tell you. Sponsored content will be clearly marked, and we’ll never accept money to say something we don’t believe. Ever. Not even for backstage passes (…ok maybe for lifetime guest list, we’ll talk 👀).

🤝 3. Affiliations & Freebies

Sometimes we get sent things to review – albums, tickets, shirts, inflatable flamingos – and if that’s the case, we’ll say so. Free stuff never buys a 5-star review here. If it’s crap, we’ll say it’s crap. If it’s lush, we’ll probably wear it to Tesco.

🧠 4. Editorial Independence

Our writers, contributors, and gobshites operate with full independence. No PR puppeteering, no corporate whispering in our ears. The Riff Report is proudly run by fans, for fans, and we don’t do “editorial direction” unless it’s “make it funnier” or “add more dragons.”

🎸 5. Corrections & Oopsies

We’re human. (Barely, after three days at Download.) If we get something wrong – dates, names, or mistakenly call someone Welsh when they’re not – we’ll correct it ASAP. Hit us up, we’ll fix it faster than Lars can lose a drumstick.

🛡️ 6. Respect Where It Matters

We take the piss, but we do draw lines. We never publish hate, discrimination, or personal attacks – unless it’s about Ticketmaster fees, in which case all bets are off. Everyone deserves to enjoy rock ‘n’ roll, and we stand against gatekeeping, elitism, and dodgy behaviour.

💬 7. Quote Us Right, or Don’t

If you wanna quote us – go for it, but credit The Riff Report and link back to the source. Don’t nick our words and pretend they’re yours, or we’ll write a diss track about you.

🧾 8. Transparency in Reviews & Rankings

All our lists (Best Gigs, Worst Festival Toilets, Bands Who Owe Us A Pint) are based on actual experience, fan feedback, and research. We might be cheeky, but we don’t make stuff up for clicks. If we love a band, it’s because they earned it. If we roast a set, it’s because we saw it flop in real time.

🤘 In Short:

We keep it real, respectful, and a bit ridiculous. We’re here to champion music, challenge nonsense, and have a laugh doing it. Our ethics are simple: be honest, be kind, be loud.

Diolch for reading, legends. Now let’s get back to the riffs. 🎸🔥