Affiliate Disclosure
Behind the Covers participates in affiliate programs. This page explains what that means in practice, which programs we use, and how we keep editorial coverage independent from revenue.
What an affiliate link is
An affiliate link is an outbound link to a retailer or streaming service that contains a tracking tag identifying us as the referrer. If you click through and make a qualifying purchase or subscription, the retailer pays us a small commission. The price you pay is exactly the same as it would be without the link.
Programs we participate in
- Amazon Associates. "Own it on Vinyl" buttons and similar links point to Amazon and include our associate tag. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
- Apple Services Performance Partners. "Listen on Apple Music" links include our affiliate token when configured.
- eBay Partner Network. "Find on eBay" searches include our campaign and tool identifiers.
- Spotify. "Listen on Spotify" links are currently plain links and do not pay a commission, but we may join a Spotify-affiliated program in the future.
How this affects coverage
It doesn't. We choose which album covers to write about based on their visual and cultural significance, not on whether the album is easy to buy. Some entries cover records that are out of print, or that have no clean affiliate link at all — we still write them. We don't accept money from labels, artists, or designers in exchange for adding, removing, or rewording coverage.
How affiliate links are labeled
Affiliate links appear as branded buttons on individual album cover pages — for example "Listen on Spotify," "Listen on Apple Music," "Own it on Vinyl," and "Find on eBay." They're visually distinct from inline text links so that you can tell at a glance when you're about to leave the site for a retailer. A short reminder also appears in the site footer.
Display advertising
Behind the Covers may also display third-party ads from networks like Google AdSense. Ad units are clearly distinguishable from editorial content, and we have no control over which specific ads are shown. We do not sell sponsored entries or paid placements inside articles.
Reporting a problem
If an affiliate link points to the wrong album, a counterfeit pressing, or a clearly broken page, please email us with the URL and we'll fix it. For broader feedback on how the site is funded or moderated, see our editorial policy.