Critics' Code
What anyone holding a music critic licence on Soundtropic commits to, and what happens if they don't.
01 Really listen
Listen to each song's excerpt before voting (at least 30 seconds) and judge the song, not who you think made it. The tasting is blind so that the music is what counts.
02 Comment to help
Every vote comes with a comment for the creator: what works, what you'd improve and why. No insults, no mockery and no links. Creators rate how useful it was (it counts towards your Critic Index) and can flag a comment as disrespectful for the team to review.
03 Conflict of interest
If you recognise a song —yours, a friend's or a collaborator's— press “I recognise it”: it's skipped without counting. Never judge your own songs or your collaborators'.
04 Confidentiality
What plays in the critics' tasting is blind for every critic. Don't record or download it, don't say which song it is or how you'll vote, and don't agree with anyone on how to vote.
05 Honest reviews and lists
What you feature, signed, on a song page and what you recommend in your “Picked by…” list is your opinion. Never accept money, gifts or favours to vote for, feature or recommend a song.
06 Consistency
The commitment is 20 votes a week in the critics' tasting. It counts towards your Critic Index and towards renewing your licence.
07 If it isn't followed
The team can give you a warning, a suspension (usually 14 days and at most 90: while it lasts you can't taste or use your powers) or revoke your licence. Always with the reason explained, which you'll see on your critic panel.
08 Appeal
You can appeal each warning or sanction for 6 months from your panel. A person from the team reviews it and replies there. If a suspension or revocation is overturned, you get your licence back.
Version of 4 October 2026.