How we work
Every piece of writing published on The Hurd is researched, written, and edited by a named member of our team. We do not publish anonymous content, we do not accept guest posts from brands or their representatives, and we do not allow commercial relationships to influence editorial decisions. If we think something is overpriced, overhyped, or simply not very good, we will say so regardless of who makes it or sells it.
Our reviews are based on our own listening. We buy the records we review, or we borrow them from people we trust. We do not accept promotional copies from labels or distributors in exchange for coverage, though we may occasionally receive advance listening copies for time-sensitive reviews — in which case we will say so. A review copy has never changed a verdict and never will.
Accuracy and corrections
We take factual accuracy seriously. Pressing details, release dates, personnel credits, chart positions, and sales figures are verified against primary sources — label discographies, the Official Charts Company, BPI data, and Discogs — before publication. Where information is disputed or uncertain, we say so rather than presenting one version as definitive.
If we get something wrong, we correct it. Corrections are noted at the bottom of the relevant article with the date they were made and a brief description of what changed. We do not quietly edit articles and pretend the error didn’t happen.
Commercial relationships
The Hurd contains affiliate links — marked where they appear — which means we may earn a small commission if you buy something through them, at no cost to you. These links do not influence what we recommend or how we write about it. We only link to products and retailers we would recommend anyway. Our sister sites — WaxAndStamp.com and VinylShop.co.uk — are mentioned editorially where relevant because we think they are genuinely useful, not because they pay us to say so. They don’t.
We do not sell advertising, sponsored posts, or editorial coverage of any kind. If someone has paid for something to appear on this site, it will be clearly labelled as such. To date, nothing has been.
Updating older content
The vinyl market moves. Prices change, pressings sell out, new editions appear, and our opinions occasionally evolve. We review and update evergreen articles — buying guides, turntable recommendations, beginner explainers — on a rolling basis. When an article has been substantially updated, the date at the top of the page reflects the most recent revision.
Contact
If you have a question about our editorial standards, a correction to flag, or a complaint about something we’ve published, please get in touch via our contact page. We read everything.