Country Forum Rules & Guidelines ** Please Read **
Jun 20, 2010 21:34:19 GMT -5
Post by 43dudleyvillas on Jun 20, 2010 21:34:19 GMT -5
Welcome to the Pulse Country forum. Since we do things a little differently around here, what follows are some Country forum-specific posting rules and guidelines. Some general things to keep in mind: we in the Country forum like to think of ourselves as a neighborhood or a community. That means we post with the knowledge that our comments contribute to an environment, and we post because we plan on sticking around. There are long-timers in the forum who might be a little more familiar with how things work around here, and sometimes they step in as neighborhood watch, nudging newbies in the right direction. When you hear from a forum veteran or a moderator, it isn't meant as a personal affront -- the goal is always to work things out according to common sense as supplemented by forum rules and guidelines. The rules as spelled out might seem intimidating, but they are actually pretty simple: Post with content (whether it's analysis or a well-supported opinion), and post with respect. In greater detail, here goes:
1. No daily Mediabase updates: This is simple. Do not post daily Mediabase updates in any thread for any single. Why not? Because we emphasize more substantive chart analysis that incorporates multiple days of data. Daily updates can be deceiving, and they lead to a chatroom-like atmosphere. Does this mean you cannot incorporate Mediabase statistics into your posts? No. But be sure to do one of the following when you do:
2. No daily updates from iTunes or any other sales or airplay charts: Again, people who post daily iTunes updates tend to do so without adding any real analysis, so don't post them. If it is a significant week for a song on iTunes, i.e., its debut week there, or the week that a televised performance or discount deal or something has the song shooting up the digital charts, then you can post once to note the song's peak on the chart that week. You can also make a general observation about a song having stabilized within a certain range on the digital charts if there is any connection with the song's country airplay. Similarly, if you wish to note a song's peak on another chart, you may post once in a thread to do so.
3. No one-liners: Again, the Pulse Country forum is not to be treated as a chatroom. If you like a song, don't drive by with an "I love this song!! :)" and then leave. Explain why you do, referencing specific aspects of vocal performance, lyrics, melody, production or other elements of a song. If you dislike a song, don't drop in with a "This song sucks" and leave. Explain why you have your opinion, referencing specific aspects of vocal performance, lyrics, melody, production, or other elements of a song. Once you have expressed and explained your opinion, don't repeat yourself just because someone disagrees. Don't post again in the thread unless you genuinely have something new and substantive to say. Don't treat discussion as a place where you have to have the last word.
4. Only start new threads if they are for officially confirmed singles, you have a link to an official source and are willing to take responsibility for posting chart run and background information on that song: The first post of new single threads should contain the following:
-A streaming link to the studio version of the song (a live version is acceptable as an interim substitute for a song that has already been officially announced as a single) - do not post a download for the studio version of the song.
-The song's impact/adds date (when announced),
-The songwriters (if confirmed),
-The song's chart run,
-A link to the song's video.[/ul]When you start a thread for a single, use the following format for the thread title: Artist - "Song Title Within Quotation Marks."
5. Only start new threads for albums if there is an official online stream available to hear the album. Please make sure to link to the official online stream in the first post of the thread. When you start a thread for an album, use the following format for the thread title: Listening Party - Artist - Album Title. Album threads may be used to post your review of the album, as well as media reviews of the album. Initial sales projections and numbers can be posted in album threads, but please do not post every week to update the album's sales (we already have a Weekly Album and Single Sales thread). Album threads can also be used to discuss possible single choices from the album, but the threads will be locked around three months after the album's release unless there is a very compelling reason to keep them unlocked.
6. Stay on topic: Threads for singles should be used to discuss the single's chart run and the single itself. The threads should not be used to discuss subsequent single possibilities unless the current single has already peaked. The staff will allow some latitude for good tangential discussions pertaining to the artist, his/her/their career trajectory, or some historical significance the artist or single may have.
7. Post about songs, not about each other: Don't post to judge people who agree or disagree with you about a song. You are free to agree or disagree with someone else's opinion. But personal insults or otherwise dismissive judgments of fellow posters are inappropriate for this board. There are instances in which the staff will let posters hash out little spats among themselves (generally if we believe the posters in question can be trusted to do so because of their posting record at Pulse). But personal attacks and retaliation in kind are more likely to get posters warned by the staff according to Pulse rules. Here are some examples of appropriate and inappropriate posts:
-"I can't believe anyone likes this song. Did none of you listen to the lyrics?" [not appropriate because again, it insults posters and fails to say anything specific about the song]
-"This song is amazing and if it isn't a hit it's only because country radio is too busy playing the crap the undeserving big names are putting out." [not appropriate because it makes a declarative statement about a song's quality without defending the statement, while making a sweeping, unsupported statement about other artists]
-"I just don't think 'obese Southern cookies' makes for a good lyrical hook. It may evoke a clear image, but I'm bothered by the prejudiced tone and the subsequent forced rhyme with 'horseracing bookies.' It's an example of letting the meter dictate the lyrics instead of letting the lyrics flow naturally." [acceptable]
-"I think the originality of 'obese Southern cookies' is what makes the song stand out. The fatty food imagery really nails how this guy seemed like a sweet dessert treat but was really bad for her in the end. It really packs a big punch when it turns out that a guy she thought was so rich and buttery 'stole her puppy.' I don't think you can get away with a performance and production that is so angry if the lyrics aren't that extreme." [acceptable] [/ul]8. Read the thread before posting: Since you should only be posting when you have something new and substantive to add, you should know what has been posted in the thread before commenting in order to avoid repeat comments. In the case of a thread that is more than three (3) pages long, just make sure you have read the last two weeks or the last three pages worth of posts prior to posting again. If the thread is three pages long or less, read the whole thread before posting.
9. Don't post consecutively: If you have something new to say and no one has posted in a thread since the last time you did, either wait until someone else has posted before commenting or edit your new thoughts into your most recent post. The only exceptions are if it has been a week since the last post in the thread or if there is some significant news development, like the release of a video that is going to go otherwise unnoted on the board.
10. Make use of Country forum resources: Thanks to some resourceful and hard-working posters, the Pulse Country forum has a trove of informative resources from which posters can get data and gain some insight into how the charts work. Posters can feel free to ask questions and participate in discussions about chart events in those threads. Some of our thread resources are:
-the Country Top 100 Mediabase thread, updated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays by northerncountry. This thread contains Mediabase updates for the top 100 songs on the published Mediabase chart for the country format, and is a valuable resource to see which songs might debut on the published Billboard and Country Aircheck charts that week.
-the Upcoming Single Releases - 2010 thread, whose first post is updated regularly by Tristan/countryfan2002. This thread aggregates news of upcoming single releases and impact dates from credible sources. If you have questions about the status of upcoming singles, that's the thread to ask them.
-the Upcoming Album Releases - 2010 thread, whose first post is updated regularly by ShaniaGotchaGood!. This thread aggregates news of upcoming album releases and their release dates from credible sources, and is also the place to post officially announced album covers and tracklistings for upcoming album. If you have questions about the status of upcoming albums, that's the thread to ask them.
-the Weekly Album & Single Sales thread, which gets updated weekly by leilamaurizia and other posters who come by Soundscan numbers for country acts. This is the thread to post and find information about weekly album and digital single sales for artists in the country genre. If you have questions about sales, that's the thread to ask them.
-the Concert Ticket Sales thread, which gets updated by leilamaurizia and others whenever Billboard Boxscores and Pollstar release information about country tour ticket sales.
-the Billboard Top Country Album/Single #1s - 2010 thread, which gets updated by ShaniaGotchaGood with weekly information about what is topping Billboard's Country Albums and Hot Country Songs chart.
-the Billboard Country Update Issues thread, which gets updated weekly with links to the current issue of Billboard Country Update.
-the Country Aircheck Weekly Issues thread, which gets updated weekly with links to the current issue of Country Aircheck.
-the Joel Whitburn's All-Time Top Country Artists thread, which gets updated every six months by Jonsolo. This thread tracks country's all-time top artists based on airplay, and is a valuable resource to understand how an artist's airplay to date compares to that of other major country artists over time.[/ul]11. Read the the Future of the Country Forum thread. It gives some idea of the culture of and expectations in the Pulse Country forum. We try to maintain a high level of substantive and analytical discussion in the forum, and we are less chatty than other forums here at Pulse. Posters with suggestions and concerns about the atmosphere and direction of this forum can post them in that thread, or, even better, PM the forum moderator.
12. PM the forum moderator with questions, concerns and suggestions about the moderation of and traffic in this forum, as well as if you see violations of forum rules. Although the staff does rely on people in this forum to behave like adults and work out little issues, posters should not take it upon themselves to tell other posters what to do. If you see a troll, don't get drawn into discussion with it; simply PM the forum moderator with a link to and quote of the offending post(s). If you have questions about whether a post is appropriate for the forum or how the forum works, PM the moderator prior to posting.
1. No daily Mediabase updates: This is simple. Do not post daily Mediabase updates in any thread for any single. Why not? Because we emphasize more substantive chart analysis that incorporates multiple days of data. Daily updates can be deceiving, and they lead to a chatroom-like atmosphere. Does this mean you cannot incorporate Mediabase statistics into your posts? No. But be sure to do one of the following when you do:
2. No daily updates from iTunes or any other sales or airplay charts: Again, people who post daily iTunes updates tend to do so without adding any real analysis, so don't post them. If it is a significant week for a song on iTunes, i.e., its debut week there, or the week that a televised performance or discount deal or something has the song shooting up the digital charts, then you can post once to note the song's peak on the chart that week. You can also make a general observation about a song having stabilized within a certain range on the digital charts if there is any connection with the song's country airplay. Similarly, if you wish to note a song's peak on another chart, you may post once in a thread to do so.
3. No one-liners: Again, the Pulse Country forum is not to be treated as a chatroom. If you like a song, don't drive by with an "I love this song!! :)" and then leave. Explain why you do, referencing specific aspects of vocal performance, lyrics, melody, production or other elements of a song. If you dislike a song, don't drop in with a "This song sucks" and leave. Explain why you have your opinion, referencing specific aspects of vocal performance, lyrics, melody, production, or other elements of a song. Once you have expressed and explained your opinion, don't repeat yourself just because someone disagrees. Don't post again in the thread unless you genuinely have something new and substantive to say. Don't treat discussion as a place where you have to have the last word.
4. Only start new threads if they are for officially confirmed singles, you have a link to an official source and are willing to take responsibility for posting chart run and background information on that song: The first post of new single threads should contain the following:
-A streaming link to the studio version of the song (a live version is acceptable as an interim substitute for a song that has already been officially announced as a single) - do not post a download for the studio version of the song.
-The song's impact/adds date (when announced),
-The songwriters (if confirmed),
-The song's chart run,
-A link to the song's video.[/ul]When you start a thread for a single, use the following format for the thread title: Artist - "Song Title Within Quotation Marks."
5. Only start new threads for albums if there is an official online stream available to hear the album. Please make sure to link to the official online stream in the first post of the thread. When you start a thread for an album, use the following format for the thread title: Listening Party - Artist - Album Title. Album threads may be used to post your review of the album, as well as media reviews of the album. Initial sales projections and numbers can be posted in album threads, but please do not post every week to update the album's sales (we already have a Weekly Album and Single Sales thread). Album threads can also be used to discuss possible single choices from the album, but the threads will be locked around three months after the album's release unless there is a very compelling reason to keep them unlocked.
6. Stay on topic: Threads for singles should be used to discuss the single's chart run and the single itself. The threads should not be used to discuss subsequent single possibilities unless the current single has already peaked. The staff will allow some latitude for good tangential discussions pertaining to the artist, his/her/their career trajectory, or some historical significance the artist or single may have.
7. Post about songs, not about each other: Don't post to judge people who agree or disagree with you about a song. You are free to agree or disagree with someone else's opinion. But personal insults or otherwise dismissive judgments of fellow posters are inappropriate for this board. There are instances in which the staff will let posters hash out little spats among themselves (generally if we believe the posters in question can be trusted to do so because of their posting record at Pulse). But personal attacks and retaliation in kind are more likely to get posters warned by the staff according to Pulse rules. Here are some examples of appropriate and inappropriate posts:
-"I can't believe anyone likes this song. Did none of you listen to the lyrics?" [not appropriate because again, it insults posters and fails to say anything specific about the song]
-"This song is amazing and if it isn't a hit it's only because country radio is too busy playing the crap the undeserving big names are putting out." [not appropriate because it makes a declarative statement about a song's quality without defending the statement, while making a sweeping, unsupported statement about other artists]
-"I just don't think 'obese Southern cookies' makes for a good lyrical hook. It may evoke a clear image, but I'm bothered by the prejudiced tone and the subsequent forced rhyme with 'horseracing bookies.' It's an example of letting the meter dictate the lyrics instead of letting the lyrics flow naturally." [acceptable]
-"I think the originality of 'obese Southern cookies' is what makes the song stand out. The fatty food imagery really nails how this guy seemed like a sweet dessert treat but was really bad for her in the end. It really packs a big punch when it turns out that a guy she thought was so rich and buttery 'stole her puppy.' I don't think you can get away with a performance and production that is so angry if the lyrics aren't that extreme." [acceptable] [/ul]8. Read the thread before posting: Since you should only be posting when you have something new and substantive to add, you should know what has been posted in the thread before commenting in order to avoid repeat comments. In the case of a thread that is more than three (3) pages long, just make sure you have read the last two weeks or the last three pages worth of posts prior to posting again. If the thread is three pages long or less, read the whole thread before posting.
9. Don't post consecutively: If you have something new to say and no one has posted in a thread since the last time you did, either wait until someone else has posted before commenting or edit your new thoughts into your most recent post. The only exceptions are if it has been a week since the last post in the thread or if there is some significant news development, like the release of a video that is going to go otherwise unnoted on the board.
10. Make use of Country forum resources: Thanks to some resourceful and hard-working posters, the Pulse Country forum has a trove of informative resources from which posters can get data and gain some insight into how the charts work. Posters can feel free to ask questions and participate in discussions about chart events in those threads. Some of our thread resources are:
-the Country Top 100 Mediabase thread, updated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays by northerncountry. This thread contains Mediabase updates for the top 100 songs on the published Mediabase chart for the country format, and is a valuable resource to see which songs might debut on the published Billboard and Country Aircheck charts that week.
-the Upcoming Single Releases - 2010 thread, whose first post is updated regularly by Tristan/countryfan2002. This thread aggregates news of upcoming single releases and impact dates from credible sources. If you have questions about the status of upcoming singles, that's the thread to ask them.
-the Upcoming Album Releases - 2010 thread, whose first post is updated regularly by ShaniaGotchaGood!. This thread aggregates news of upcoming album releases and their release dates from credible sources, and is also the place to post officially announced album covers and tracklistings for upcoming album. If you have questions about the status of upcoming albums, that's the thread to ask them.
-the Weekly Album & Single Sales thread, which gets updated weekly by leilamaurizia and other posters who come by Soundscan numbers for country acts. This is the thread to post and find information about weekly album and digital single sales for artists in the country genre. If you have questions about sales, that's the thread to ask them.
-the Concert Ticket Sales thread, which gets updated by leilamaurizia and others whenever Billboard Boxscores and Pollstar release information about country tour ticket sales.
-the Billboard Top Country Album/Single #1s - 2010 thread, which gets updated by ShaniaGotchaGood with weekly information about what is topping Billboard's Country Albums and Hot Country Songs chart.
-the Billboard Country Update Issues thread, which gets updated weekly with links to the current issue of Billboard Country Update.
-the Country Aircheck Weekly Issues thread, which gets updated weekly with links to the current issue of Country Aircheck.
-the Joel Whitburn's All-Time Top Country Artists thread, which gets updated every six months by Jonsolo. This thread tracks country's all-time top artists based on airplay, and is a valuable resource to understand how an artist's airplay to date compares to that of other major country artists over time.[/ul]11. Read the the Future of the Country Forum thread. It gives some idea of the culture of and expectations in the Pulse Country forum. We try to maintain a high level of substantive and analytical discussion in the forum, and we are less chatty than other forums here at Pulse. Posters with suggestions and concerns about the atmosphere and direction of this forum can post them in that thread, or, even better, PM the forum moderator.
12. PM the forum moderator with questions, concerns and suggestions about the moderation of and traffic in this forum, as well as if you see violations of forum rules. Although the staff does rely on people in this forum to behave like adults and work out little issues, posters should not take it upon themselves to tell other posters what to do. If you see a troll, don't get drawn into discussion with it; simply PM the forum moderator with a link to and quote of the offending post(s). If you have questions about whether a post is appropriate for the forum or how the forum works, PM the moderator prior to posting.