FAQ for music receivers

Who can apply for a listing?

A radio station, radio program, music blog, music publication, playlist curator, or other editorial curator may apply when it directly receives music and the applicant is authorized to maintain the information. A pitching service, paid submission marketplace, or other intermediary that does not make the editorial decision is not eligible for this directory.

What information and evidence are required?

Provide the public identity of the opportunity, its official website, music focus, current submission status, direct submission route, eligibility, required materials, meaningful caveats, and an official HTTPS page that supports the information. Your private contact and explanation of authority are used for confirmation and review. One logo or representative image is optional.

What should I enter for the primary country?

Use the two-letter country code for the opportunity, such as US, GB, CA, or AU. Use global only when the opportunity truly has no primary country boundary. Explain broader or narrower geographic priorities in the eligibility field.

How should I describe the music I actually want?

Use truthful genre, scene, community, format, and territory information that helps creators decide whether to submit. Do not list styles merely to attract more pitches. Genre supports discovery, but it does not promise consideration or placement.

What happens after I apply?

First, confirm the private contact route using the message sent by Indie Music Bus. An authorized reviewer then checks the application, its evidence, possible duplicates, and directory rules. Approval creates a private profile draft. A separate publication review is required before the listing becomes public. No review time or acceptance is guaranteed.

Why must I confirm the private contact route?

Confirmation proves access to the private address used for this application. It does not prove every public claim, guarantee approval, or give the applicant a WordPress account. Indie Music Bus uses the confirmed route for protected application and maintenance messages.

How should I describe the submission route?

Choose the method artists actually use and provide the direct destination when one exists. The route must reach the named opportunity or its controlled intake process. Do not substitute a general contact page, promotional sales route, or unrelated intermediary service.

What is an official submission information source?

It is an HTTPS page controlled by the opportunity that supports the current submission method, requirements, or eligibility. A homepage is acceptable only when it clearly contains that information. Social posts or third-party descriptions may help review, but they should not replace a durable official source when one is available.

Which submission status should I choose?

Choose open only when artists can submit now through the stated route. Choose scheduled when a real future window or date is known. Closed, paused, invitation-only, and unknown do not display an active public submission action. Keep the status current after publication.

What belongs in eligibility, materials, restrictions, and caveats?

State the practical facts a creator needs before submitting: location or release timing, accepted release types, clean or explicit requirements, required links or assets, naming instructions, and any limitation that could make an otherwise relevant submission ineligible. Keep promotional claims and private reviewer notes out of these fields.

What qualifies as a clearly available free route?

Artists must be able to reach the real editorial consideration process without paying for review, pitching, coverage, airplay, playlist placement, feedback, priority, or a required membership. An unrelated optional commercial service may be disclosed only when the free route remains clear and receives genuine consideration. Payment, partner status, or promotional support cannot affect Indie Music Bus approval or ranking.

How should I describe response expectations?

State what the opportunity actually does. You may describe responses to all submissions, selected submissions, a published timeframe, or no promised response. A response or feedback promise is not the same as guaranteed coverage, airplay, playlist placement, streams, or another result.

What does authority to maintain the listing mean?

Explain your current relationship to the opportunity and why you can provide and maintain its public information. Access to a public page or an old message is not enough by itself. This explanation and private contact are reviewed and are not published on the profile.

How do I update or reconfirm a listing?

Use the managed correction page with the public profile address and confirmed private contact. A protected link lets the current contact propose a complete replacement or confirm that the existing information remains accurate. Changes are reviewed before publication and do not silently replace the public profile.

What happens when a listing becomes stale?

Indie Music Bus begins reconfirmation reminders after 150 days. At 210 days without confirmation, a published listing is marked stale. At 270 days, the submission destination is withheld until reconfirmation. The stable page explains the current state without inventing closure or deleting the profile automatically.

How do I suspend or remove an opportunity?

The confirmed contact may request removal through the managed correction page. Indie Music Bus reviews the exact request before changing the public state. Urgent safety concerns use a separate protected review. A removal request does not grant control to another person or delete records immediately.

What happens when someone reports a concern?

A concern remains private and requires contact confirmation before ordinary review. Indie Music Bus checks the issue without publishing the reporter details, private evidence, or internal notes. A confirmed concern may pause publication or lead to correction, suspension, or removal when the facts support that action.