Community & Independence Policy
Our approach
Sonance Sessions exists to bring artists, DJs and listeners together through music. We work with people from different backgrounds, cultures, countries and perspectives, and we believe that everyone should be able to express their own views and beliefs.
At the same time, Sonance Sessions is an independent and politically neutral music platform. We don't align ourselves with political parties, movements, religious organisations or ideological positions.
That distinction is important to us.
Your views are your own
Our artists and contributors are individuals, and we respect their right to have and express their own opinions, beliefs and perspectives.
An artist's personal views, whether expressed privately or publicly, do not represent the views of Sonance Sessions.
We do not expect the people we work with to share the same opinions as us, and we don't believe that appearing on Sonance Sessions should require anyone to do so.
Equally, we ask that artists and contributors do not present Sonance Sessions, its team, platform or brand as supporting or endorsing their personal political, religious or ideological views.
Our platform is for music
Our podcast, radio station, website and social channels are primarily here to showcase music and the artists who create and perform it.
We are happy for our artists to have their own voices and opinions. However, our name, logo, artwork, promotional materials and official channels should not be used to promote political campaigns, partisan causes or ideological positions without our prior agreement.
This isn't about preventing anyone from expressing themselves. It's about making sure that personal expression isn't confused with the position of Sonance Sessions.
Respect matters
We believe people can disagree, sometimes strongly, without losing respect for one another.
We therefore do not knowingly associate Sonance Sessions with content or conduct that involves:
-
Hate speech or attacks against people based on who they are
-
Discrimination or dehumanisation
-
Harassment or targeted abuse
-
Threats against individuals or groups
-
The promotion or incitement of violence
This applies regardless of the political, religious or ideological position being expressed.
Lawful expression and protest
We respect the right of individuals to express political opinions, discuss issues they care about and participate in lawful protest.
Holding a controversial opinion, supporting a particular cause or disagreeing with a political position does not, by itself, conflict with Sonance Sessions' values.
Our role is not to decide what people should think.
Our role is to maintain a platform where music and artists can be shared without Sonance Sessions being presented as an endorsement of an individual's personal views.
Our responsibility
We will always aim to deal with concerns fairly and in context.
If content or conduct associated with an artist raises a serious concern about Sonance Sessions' brand or conflicts with the standards outlined above, we may review or remove our promotional association with that content or artist.
Where appropriate, this may include removing links, promotional material or other references connecting the content with Sonance Sessions.
We will consider the circumstances rather than treating every disagreement or controversial opinion as a reason to end an association.
A shared understanding
We don't believe everyone who works with Sonance Sessions needs to think the same way.
In fact, we think difference is part of what makes a creative community interesting.
Our simple expectation is that personal views remain personal, our platform remains independent and neutral, and everyone we work with treats others with a reasonable level of respect.
You bring your music, your identity and your perspective. Sonance Sessions remains an independent platform for the music.