Hopefully this will give you the information you need. If your Question does not appear here, chances are that you have not Asked it Frequently enough, and will need to ask again.

Q: How long has Splendid been around?

A: Splendid launched in November, 1996. For a more detailed history, read this.

Q: Why did you guys switch to daily publication?

A: Three reasons, really. First of all, because it was a new challenge -- which, after five years, we needed. Second, we were at the point where we had so much content every week that it was foolish to roll it out in one big clump; we could roll it out over seven days without feeling like we were stretching the content unnecessarily far. And third, honestly, there's only so far you can go as a weekly zine, and you can never cover things as quickly as you'd like to. In order to remain relevant and continue to grow, we had to make this shift.

Q: You're not really daily, right? You publish Monday through Friday.

A: No. We roll out new content seven days a week. Mind you, we'll probably take a day or two off during the holidays, but we're quite serious about this seven days a week thing.

Q: What kind of music does Splendid cover?

A: We're really not joking when we say "everything". While we focus on independent releases, we cover just about any genre you'd care to name. Major label stuff finds its way in there too, sometimes. And this bit is important -- we review everything we receive.

Q: Why didn't you review (such and such CD)?

A: The only reason you won't see a CD reviewed on Splendid is because it wasn't sent to us for review. This happens from time to time with higher-profile indie releases -- the record label will hire a PR firm to work the CD, and those misguided souls won't consider us to be sufficiently high-profile to justify a promo copy. This is happening less and less, admittedly, but it still happens sometimes. And there are still a few labels out there who don't respond to our requests for promos.

If there's a label whose music you think we should be reviewing, tell us. And while you're at it, tell them about us.

Q: How do I get my CD / LP / 10" / 7" / Cassette reviewed in Splendid?

A: You need to read this.

Q: Do you really review everything you receive? How can that be possible?

A: Yes. Really. We take that promise very, very seriously. It can take a lot of time, and is certainly to blame for our substantial backlog and ever-growing staff, but we review every last LP, 12", 10", 7", CD and cassette we receive. Pretty much the only reason we wouldn't review something would be (a) it arrived broken, and we had no way to let you know that this happened, or (b) someone sent us an unlabeled release and we didn't know who it was.

Q: Okay, fine...but why do you review everything you receive? Who cares about some third-string band's CD-R?

A: We do. I mean, let's think for a minute. Great bands don't just spring into existence with record deals and back catalog fully-formed, do they? Probably not. So every great band you've ever heard was an unknown band at some point...until someone listened to them. The point here is that you never really know where your next favorite album is going to come from, do you? There's no earthly reason why a band in Podunk, IA with a sloppily-labeled CD-R release isn't capable of recording something that'll blow Radiohead's doors off. So we listen...and we like to blur the lines between "amateur" and "indie".

Q: So if I like this ultra-obscure music you're covering, where can I find it?

A: We'll do our best to help you track it down. Most bands, even those who self-release, have a website, or at least an e-mail address. You may not be able to buy their CDs at the local record shop, but if you drop them a line you'll be able to work something out. They may even give you the music for free just because you're interested.

Q: Okay...I sent you my band's CD. When can I expect to see a review?

A: Like we said, we review everything we receive. That takes time, so with all due respect, be patient. A typical timeframe is anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Don't forget, once records are received at Splendid HQ, most of them must be reshipped to reviewers. This is done on a weekly basis, with the oldest stuff going out first, so depending on when your release arrives it may be in a reviewer's hands within a week, or it may sit for a while. However, when a CD has been sitting around for a while before being remailed, we do our best to let our reviewers know it needs to be reviewed soon.

On rare occasions, we misplace review materials. 7" singles are the worst for this, as efforts to keep them safe from damage often work against us. If you think you've waited an inordinately long time for a review -- i.e. longer than eight weeks -- e-mail George and he'll have a look.

Q: Fine. But while I'm waiting for the review...what did you think of my CD?

A: As much as we'd love to listen to each and every CD that comes through the doors, we don't have time. Some weeks it's tough enough just finishing our regular batch of reviews. So...if you're one of the press people who e-mails us to ask how we like album X and if there's any chance of a review, you clearly haven't read this paragraph.

Q: Will you review my band's MP3s?

A: No. We don't review MP3s. Any idiot can slap together a CD today, so if you want to be reviewed, make a nice CD-R package and send it to us.

Q: Where do you get the CDs you review?

A: The vast majority are sent to us by artists and record labels. Occasionally we use our retail connections to snag advances of high-profile releases without going through the usual channels. But in general, we receive more than enough music in the mail to keep us going, so our writers rarely if ever review their own purchases. If they do, it's because they felt strongly enough about the CD in question, released by one of the few labels that does not send us promotional copies, to purchase a copy. Our steady flow of promotional materials keeps us amply busy these days.

Q: Do you use Napster, Audiogalaxy, Kazaa, etc. to get review copies before anyone else?

A: No. If you see a review of a CD in Splendid, it means one of our writers has acquired a physical copy of the album in question.

Q: Why didn't you ask my permission before creating the soundclip that accompanies the review of my CD?

A: By submitting your music for review, you give us permission to create the soundclip. Are you really that upset about it? Like the review, the soundclip is intended to give people a feel for your music, hopefully making them want to hear more.

Q: Why are you guys still using Real Audio instead of MP3?

A: RealAudio streaming is simpler and is accessible to a wider group of users -- people with 'net access through their office, for instance, who might not be allowed to download stuff but can access streaming content. Also, while Real Audio's quality has improved dramatically, it's still not a replacement for buying the original. MP3, for many users, eliminates the need to buy the disc. The point of our recommending a disc is that we we think you should buy it. We want these artists to make money so they'll make more music we like.

Q: What's this "Boombox" thing?

A: The Boombox is a repository of full-length tracks from favorite albums we've reviewed over the years. They're all in Real Audio, accessible individually or in a random, "shuffle play" mode.

Q: Why did you place my music on the Boombox without asking my permission?

A: Well, typically only the week's best tracks go on the Boombox -- it's something of an honor, really, so don't be all huffy about it. As with review soundclips, Boombox tracks frequently help listeners to decide whether or not they want to buy your CD. Songs on the Boombox are encoded in Real Audio format; they are intended for listening only.

Q: How can I get some of my band's tracks on the Boombox?

A: Record an album that one of our reviewers really, really likes. The Boombox is not open to submissions from outside the Splendid staff.

Q: How can I contact the person who reviewed my CD?

A: The writer's name is always linked to his/her e-mail address -- click on it to send e-mail.

Q: Can I submit a review to Splendid?

A: We do not run unsolicited reviews from readers. Sorry. Splendid's staff reviewers are carefully selected based upon their writing ability, knowledge and experience. You might think this is a bit stringent for a zine that doesn't pay anything, but we have a reputation for high quality and we plan to keep it going. From time to time we seek new writers. If you'd like to be considered, e-mail George two sample CD reviews. You don't need to have been published before, but your reviews should demonstrate breadth of musical taste, attentive listening and solid writing skills. Correct spelling and punctuation are important -- remember, you're trying to make a good impression. Prospective reviewers should also own, or have access to, a flatbed scanner and be computer-literate enough to create Real Audio sound clips.

Q: Can I submit a Feature article to Splendid?

A: We're willing to consider well-written, ORIGINAL features that fit in with the rest of our content -- not, for instance, "Billy Squier: A Man And His Music". Please e-mail us with the details, and we'll discuss it. You may wish to read the next question before sending us the details.

Q: Are Splendid writers paid?

A: Ha! Ha ha! Ahahahahahaha! Does that answer your question? No, we're not paid, though we enjoy the usual perks of the business (free CDs, mostly).

Q: Can I buy advertising space on the Splendid site?

A: We can certainly discuss it. Here are the details. Please note that our purpose in selling ads is to defray costs. For that reason, we prefer not to trade ads for "product", unless -- perhaps -- you've got a really cool box set coming out.

Q: Can I reprint your review of my CD on my website?

A: Yes, as long as the 'zine and reviewer are credited and you link back to Splendid. Fair is fair. Oh, and please spell the name of the 'zine right -- we're not Splended, Slendid or Splendidzine, contrary to what you might have seen elsewhere on the net.

Q: Can I reprint a Feature interview on my website?

A: We'd rather you didn't, thanks, unless you're the person who was interviewed -- and even then, we'd prefer that you ask us first. Creating original content is time-consuming; why should you swipe the article, denying us traffic, when a link (spawned in a new window, if necessary) would do just as well?

Q: Can I reprint some of your reviews in my zine?

A: Can I put my foot up your ass with great speed and force? No, you can't reprint our reviews in your zine. It's your zine, right? So write your own reviews. Your friends will respect you more then.

Q: You guys don't mind if I add you to my band's listserv without asking, do you?

A: Yes, we do. Especially when those lists flood our mailbox with useless crap (Nailing Betty, stand up please). Sorry, but it's just one more thing we don't have time to read. Please don't.

Q: I'm a mad, slobbering Splendid fan and I'd like to put a great big link to Splendid on my website. Do you have banners for that purpose?

A: Yes. They're here -- the same page from which you entered this FAQ. Perhaps you missed them.

Q: Your Search Engine isn't entirely accurate!

A: Guilty. We've maxed out the number of pages our free search engine can index, and it has had some trouble with our database-driven content, so you won't find quite everything in there. If you're looking for something in particular, review-wise, try our review search engine. Otherwise, drop us a line and we'll try to help you.

Q: Hey, I've heard you say that you're really fussy about the quality of your writing, so don't you know that commas and other punctuation go inside quotation marks?

A: We're aware that it's an established rule -- but we disagree. It's one of those rules of writing that was created to provide an empirical rule for typesetters rather than truly being justified in context. Ours is a considered decision, not an act of ignorance. We include the punctuation within the quotes when it is part of the quoted material, and leave it out when it isn't. If you have an issue with that, we suggest directing some of your far-too-ample free time to charity work.

Thanks for reading.