Last updated: 30 September 2026
This policy explains what personal information Earvolt (www.earvolt.com) collects, why we collect it, who we share it with, and the choices and rights you have. In this policy, “Earvolt”, “we”, “us” and “our” mean the team behind Earvolt.
If you have any questions, email us at hello@earvolt.com.
The information we collect
When you sign up to The Weekly Verdict: your email address. We also record when you signed up and confirmed your subscription, and whether you open our emails and click links in them.
When you contact us or submit music: your name, email address, and anything you choose to send us, such as your message, links to your music, artwork, photos or press material.
When you leave a comment: your name, email address, the comment itself and your IP address.
When you use the website: information about your visit, such as the pages you view, how long you stay, the device and browser you use, your approximate location and your IP address. Some of this is collected using cookies, explained below.
How we use your information
To send The Weekly Verdict, our weekly email with gear picks and new music, when you’ve asked to receive it. We use your consent for this, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
To understand how our emails perform, such as which links are clicked, so we can make them more useful.
To reply to messages and consider music submissions you’ve sent us.
To publish and moderate comments.
To keep the website secure and protect it and our forms from spam and abuse.
To understand how people use the website so we can improve it, where you’ve agreed to analytics cookies.
We never sell your personal information.
Our legal reasons for using your information
Consent: for our newsletter and for non essential cookies. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
Legitimate interests: for replying to messages and submissions, moderating comments, and keeping the website secure. We only rely on this where it doesn’t override your rights.
Legal obligation: where we need to keep or share information to comply with the law.
Who we share your information with
We use trusted service providers to run Earvolt. They can only use your information to provide their service to us:
Brevo sends our newsletter and stores subscribers’ details.
Cloudflare Turnstile checks that our signup form is being used by a real person, not a bot.
Google Analytics (through Google Site Kit) helps us understand how the website is used, where you’ve agreed to analytics cookies.
Our website host stores the website and the information submitted through it.
Security and spam tools, such as Wordfence and our anti spam plugins, help protect the site and filter spam comments.
We may also share information if the law requires it, or to protect the rights, property or safety of Earvolt, our readers or others.
Affiliate links
Some links on Earvolt are affiliate links, including links to Thomann and Amazon. If you click one, the retailer may place cookies on your device to record that you came from Earvolt, so we can earn a small commission if you buy something. Earvolt participates in the Amazon Associates programme, and Amazon and other third parties may use cookies to collect information about your visit when you follow these links. Any purchase you make is covered by the retailer’s own privacy policy. You can read more in our Affiliate Disclosure.
Cookies
Cookies are small files stored on your device. We use:
Essential cookies, which the website needs to work properly and securely.
Analytics cookies, which help us understand how the website is used.
Affiliate cookies, set by retailers when you click an affiliate link.
Essential cookies are always on. We only use analytics cookies if you agree to them through the cookie banner on our site, and you can change your choice at any time. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings, though some parts of the site may not work properly without them.
International transfers
Some of our service providers, such as Google and Cloudflare, may process information outside the UK, including in the United States. Where that happens, we rely on the safeguards allowed under UK data protection law, such as UK adequacy decisions or approved contract terms, to protect your information.
How long we keep your information
Newsletter subscribers: until you unsubscribe. After that, we keep your email address on a “do not contact” list so we don’t email you again by mistake.
Messages and music submissions: for up to two years, unless we’re working together, in which case for as long as needed.
Comments: for as long as the comment is published. You can ask us to remove it at any time.
Analytics data: according to Google Analytics’ retention settings, which we keep to the shortest practical period.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:
Ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Ask us to correct information that’s wrong or incomplete.
Ask us to delete your information.
Ask us to limit how we use your information, or object to us using it.
Ask for your information in a format you can take elsewhere.
Withdraw your consent at any time, for example by unsubscribing from our newsletter.
To use any of these rights, email hello@earvolt.com. We’ll reply within one month.
If you’re unhappy with how we’ve handled your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk. We’d appreciate the chance to put things right first, so please contact us before doing so.
Security
We take sensible steps to protect your information, including security software and secure connections. No website or online service can be completely secure, though, so we can’t guarantee the absolute security of information sent to us online.
Children
Earvolt isn’t aimed at children under 13, and we don’t knowingly collect information from them. If you believe a child has given us their details, please contact us and we’ll delete it.
Links to other websites
Earvolt links to other websites, such as retailers, streaming services and artists’ pages. We’re not responsible for their privacy practices, so we recommend reading their privacy policies.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it was last changed. If we make significant changes, we’ll let newsletter subscribers know by email.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this policy or your information, email hello@earvolt.com or use our contact page.