HLM

Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Last Updated: January 1, 2026

HLMmedia respects the privacy of its website visitors, readers, artists, interview participants, contributors, business partners, and others who interact with us.

This Privacy Policy explains what information HLMmedia may collect, how we use it, when it may be shared, and the choices available to you when you visit HLMmedia.com, voluntarily contact us, submit materials, participate in an interview, request coverage, purchase an authorized promotional service, or otherwise communicate with HLMmedia.

By accessing or using HLMmedia.com, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. About HLMmedia

HLMmedia is a marketing and media publication covering emerging and established musicians, artists, producers, executives, actors, tastemakers, entertainment news, interviews, culture, brands, and premium products.

Our content may include independent editorial coverage, news, interviews, curated features, promotional features, branded content, sponsored posts, advertising, and marketing partnerships.

HLMmedia currently doesn’t sell physical products through its website. HLMmedia may offer paid interviews, promotional features, sponsored content, content creation, advertising, and related marketing services.

2. Information You Voluntarily Provide

HLMmedia currently doesn’t operate an email newsletter, membership system, public user accounts, or email-subscription form through the website.

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:

Contact HLMmedia by email
Submit music, videos, photographs, biographies, press releases, pitches, or other materials
Request an interview, feature, promotional service, partnership, or advertising opportunity
Participate in an interview or content project
Communicate with an editor, writer, contributor, or authorized HLMmedia representative
Apply to write, photograph, create content, or provide services for HLMmedia
Enter into an authorized paid interview, sponsored-content, advertising, or marketing arrangement
Request a correction, privacy review, or removal of personal information

The information you voluntarily provide may include:

Your legal or professional name
Artist, stage, or business name
Email address
Telephone number
Company, record label, management company, or organization
Job title or professional role
Website and social-media information
Biography and professional background
Photographs, logos, artwork, music, audio, or video
Press releases and promotional materials
Interview responses and recorded statements
Contract, invoicing, and transaction information
Other information included in your communication

Please don’t submit Social Security numbers, passwords, private banking credentials, medical information, or other sensitive personal information that isn’t necessary for your interaction with HLMmedia.

3. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit HLMmedia.com, certain technical and website-usage information may be collected automatically by WordPress, our hosting provider, Google Analytics, website-security tools, and other services used to operate the site.

This information may include:

Internet Protocol address
Browser type
Device type
Operating system
Approximate geographic location
Language settings
Referring website or traffic source
Pages viewed
Links clicked
Dates and times of visits
Time spent on the website
General interaction and navigation information
Website-performance and diagnostic information
Information used to identify suspicious, fraudulent, or harmful activity

We primarily use this information in an aggregated or general form to operate the website, measure audience activity, improve content, evaluate website performance, understand how visitors find HLMmedia, and protect the website from misuse.

4. WordPress

HLMmedia.com is built and operated through WordPress.

WordPress, our website-hosting provider, installed plugins, security tools, and related technical services may process limited information necessary to display, secure, maintain, troubleshoot, and operate the website.

The exact information processed may depend on the features and plugins active at the time of your visit.

If HLMmedia later adds public comments, user accounts, newsletters, subscriptions, e-commerce, contests, personalized advertising, or other features that materially change our information practices, we may update this Privacy Policy and provide additional notices where appropriate.

5. Google Site Kit and Google Analytics

HLMmedia uses Google Site Kit to connect HLMmedia.com with Google Analytics and potentially other Google website-management services activated by HLMmedia.

Google Analytics helps us understand general website activity, including:

How visitors reach HLMmedia
Which pages are viewed
How long visitors remain on the website
Which devices and browsers are used
General geographic or audience information, when available
How visitors interact with website content

Google and its technologies may collect information through cookies, device identifiers, Internet Protocol addresses, and similar technologies.

HLMmedia uses Analytics information to measure website traffic, understand audience interests, improve editorial and marketing decisions, monitor website performance, and evaluate the effectiveness of our content.

HLMmedia doesn’t intentionally send names, email addresses, telephone numbers, Social Security numbers, or other directly identifying information to Google Analytics.

Google’s collection, processing, storage, and use of information are governed by Google’s own terms, policies, and privacy practices.

Visitors may limit certain Google Analytics activity by adjusting their browser cookie settings or using available Google Analytics opt-out tools.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Cookies are small files that may be placed on your browser or device when you visit a website.

HLMmedia and its service providers may use cookies and similar technologies for:

Essential website operation
Website security
Traffic measurement
Analytics
Remembering technical preferences
Understanding how visitors use the website
Identifying website errors
Detecting misuse or suspicious activity
Supporting embedded third-party content

You may be able to block, limit, or delete cookies through your browser settings. Restricting cookies may affect the operation of certain website features, embedded media, or analytics services.

If HLMmedia later activates personalized advertising, remarketing, advertising pixels, or additional tracking technologies, we may update this Privacy Policy and implement additional notices or consent tools where reasonably required.

7. Artist, Publicist and Media Submissions

Artists, musicians, publicists, managers, record labels, companies, brands, and other individuals or organizations may voluntarily submit materials to HLMmedia for possible coverage.

Submissions may be sent to hlm.submissions@gmail.com or through another communication method authorized by HLMmedia.

Submitted materials may include:

Songs and music links
Videos
Photographs
Artwork
Biographies
Press releases
Story pitches
Event information
Product information
Artist or company background
Contact details
Social-media information
Interview availability

We may use submitted information to:

Review and evaluate a pitch
Determine whether the subject is appropriate for HLMmedia
Contact the sender or relevant representatives
Research or verify information
Arrange an interview
Prepare, edit, publish, and promote content
Consider future editorial or business opportunities
Maintain appropriate records of submissions, permissions, and communications

Submitting materials doesn’t guarantee coverage, publication, an interview, a response, placement, promotion, or a business relationship.

Please submit only materials that you are authorized to share.

When you submit photographs, music, artwork, video, logos, biographies, press releases, or other materials for possible publication, you represent that you have the authority to provide those materials and permit HLMmedia to review and use them in connection with the requested or approved coverage.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, submitting materials doesn’t transfer ownership of the underlying copyright to HLMmedia.

8. Interviews and Recorded Content

HLMmedia may conduct interviews through:

Email
Telephone
Video conference
Recorded audio
Recorded video
Written questionnaires
In-person conversations

When an interview is recorded, HLMmedia will generally inform the participant or obtain consent as appropriate.

Information voluntarily provided during an interview may be recorded, transcribed, quoted, summarized, edited, published, distributed, excerpted, archived, and promoted through HLMmedia’s website, social-media channels, video platforms, or other media channels.

Interview participants are responsible for avoiding the unauthorized disclosure of confidential, proprietary, private, defamatory, or legally restricted information.

Privacy requests concerning published interviews or editorial material will be considered in light of HLMmedia’s editorial interests, applicable agreements, legal obligations, freedom-of-expression interests, and the public or newsworthy nature of the material.

9. Paid Interviews, Promotional Features and Sponsored Content

HLMmedia may accept payment for authorized interviews, promotional features, sponsored posts, advertising, content creation, marketing services, and branded partnerships.

All payments for HLMmedia services must be made directly to HLMmedia through an approved payment method.

HLMmedia writers and contributors are compensated by HLMmedia. They aren’t authorized to collect separate payments directly from artists, publicists, brands, interview subjects, or other organizations for HLMmedia services.

When an individual or organization purchases an authorized service, HLMmedia may collect or process information needed to:

Respond to the inquiry
Confirm the purchaser’s identity and contact details
Prepare a proposal or agreement
Issue an invoice
Process or document payment
Coordinate interviews or content production
Deliver the agreed services
Maintain accounting and business records
Address cancellations, disputes, or refund requests
Detect fraud or unauthorized payment requests
Comply with legal and financial obligations

Payment-card and banking information may be processed by the payment processor, financial institution, invoicing platform, or other provider used for the transaction. HLMmedia may not directly receive or retain complete payment-card or banking credentials.

Third-party payment providers process information under their own terms and privacy policies.

Payment for HLMmedia services doesn’t give a purchaser access to personal information belonging to website visitors, readers, artists, contributors, or unrelated clients.

Paid or sponsored content may be labeled to disclose the commercial relationship to readers.

10. How We Use Information

HLMmedia may use information for the following purposes:

Operating, maintaining, and securing the website
Responding to messages, questions, and requests
Reviewing pitches and submissions
Arranging and conducting interviews
Producing editorial, promotional, branded, or sponsored content
Editing, publishing, distributing, and promoting content
Communicating with artists, publicists, labels, brands, partners, and contributors
Managing authorized advertising and promotional relationships
Preparing agreements and invoices
Administering paid services
Paying authorized writers, contributors, and contractors
Maintaining financial, editorial, contractual, and permission records
Measuring website traffic and audience engagement
Improving content, website design, and user experience
Identifying technical errors
Preventing fraud, impersonation, abuse, or security threats
Investigating unauthorized payment requests
Protecting HLMmedia’s legal rights, reputation, property, operations, and users
Enforcing our agreements and policies
Complying with applicable legal, accounting, tax, or regulatory requirements
Responding to lawful requests from authorities

We may also use information for another purpose disclosed to you when the information is collected or with your permission.

11. How Information May Be Shared

HLMmedia doesn’t sell or rent website visitors’ personal information for money.

We may disclose limited information to the following categories of recipients when reasonably necessary:

Website and technical providers

This may include our hosting company, WordPress, plugin providers, security services, analytics services, backup providers, and technical contractors.

Google services

Information may be processed through Google Analytics and other Google services activated through Google Site Kit.

Writers, editors and contributors

Authorized writers, editors, producers, photographers, contractors, and contributors may receive information reasonably necessary to complete an HLMmedia assignment.

Payment and business providers

Information may be shared with payment processors, banks, accounting providers, invoicing platforms, attorneys, insurers, and other professional advisers used to administer HLMmedia’s business.

Collaborators and production partners

When content is produced with an authorized partner, limited information may be shared as necessary to organize, produce, publish, or promote the content.

Legal and safety purposes

We may disclose information when we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to:

Comply with a law, regulation, subpoena, court order, or legal process
Respond to a lawful government request
Investigate fraud, impersonation, or unauthorized payment activity
Enforce an agreement or policy
Protect the rights, safety, property, reputation, or operations of HLMmedia or another party
Prevent or respond to security threats, abuse, or unlawful activity

Business transfers

Information may be transferred as part of a merger, acquisition, restructuring, financing, sale of assets, or transfer of all or part of HLMmedia’s operations.

We may also share aggregated or de-identified information that doesn’t reasonably identify a particular individual.

12. Writers, Contributors and Contractors

HLMmedia may work with freelance writers, editors, interviewers, photographers, videographers, producers, and other independent contractors.

Authorized contributors may receive limited contact details, submissions, interview materials, or other information necessary to perform an assigned HLMmedia service.

Contributors are expected to:

Use information only for the authorized assignment
Protect information from unauthorized access
Avoid using artist or client information for unrelated purposes
Avoid adding contacts to personal marketing lists without permission
Avoid sharing confidential materials without authorization
Return or delete information when reasonably requested
Direct all HLMmedia-related payments through HLMmedia

HLMmedia isn’t responsible for a contributor’s independent services, personal website, personal social-media activity, separate business, or other conduct that HLMmedia didn’t authorize or control.

Anyone who believes that a writer or contributor has improperly requested payment, misrepresented an arrangement, or misused personal information should contact HLMmedia at hlm.submissions@gmail.com.

13. Embedded Content

HLMmedia may embed or display content from third-party services, including:

YouTube
Vimeo
Spotify
Apple Music
SoundCloud
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
X
LinkedIn
Other music, video, social-media, or entertainment platforms

Embedded content may behave as though you visited the third party’s website or application directly.

These third parties may:

Use cookies
Collect your Internet Protocol address
Collect device and browser information
Track your interaction with embedded content
Associate activity with your account when you are logged in
Use information according to their own privacy policies

HLMmedia doesn’t control the information practices of these third-party services. You should review the applicable third-party privacy policies before interacting with embedded content.

14. Third-Party Links

HLMmedia may link to:

Artist websites
Streaming platforms
Record-label websites
Social-media profiles
Products and brands
Events
Ticketing services
Retailers
Entertainment companies
Other third-party websites

HLMmedia doesn’t control and isn’t responsible for the privacy, security, availability, content, products, services, or practices of third-party websites.

Following an external link is at your own discretion and subject to the third party’s own terms and privacy policy.

15. Public Information and Published Content

Information published in an article, interview, contributor biography, photograph, video, caption, sponsored feature, promotional profile, or other public content may become available to the general public.

Publicly published material may be:

Indexed by search engines
Shared on social media
Quoted or referenced by others
Copied or archived by third parties
Preserved through web archives
Distributed beyond HLMmedia’s direct control

Please don’t provide information for publication that you don’t want made public.

Removal of content from HLMmedia doesn’t guarantee that copies, cached versions, search-engine results, screenshots, quotations, or third-party archives will be removed.

16. Data Retention

HLMmedia may retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected or for a legitimate editorial, business, security, accounting, archival, contractual, or legal purpose.

Retention periods may depend on:

The nature of the information
The reason it was collected
Whether content was published
Whether an agreement remains active
Accounting and tax requirements
Potential or active disputes
Fraud-prevention needs
Legal obligations
Editorial and historical value

Published articles, interviews, photographs, videos, and other editorial or archival materials may remain available indefinitely.

Unpublished pitches and submissions may be retained for future editorial consideration unless deletion is requested and no legitimate reason requires continued retention.

HLMmedia may retain transaction, payment, contract, and tax-related records for the period reasonably required for accounting, legal, fraud-prevention, and business purposes.

17. Information Security

HLMmedia uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures intended to protect information under our control.

These measures may include password protection, access limitations, software updates, website-security tools, secure hosting practices, backups, and limiting access to individuals who reasonably need the information.

However, no website, hosting service, email system, cloud platform, database, or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

You provide information electronically at your own risk. Please avoid sending sensitive personal or financial information through ordinary email unless specifically requested and an appropriate transmission method has been provided.

18. Children’s Privacy

HLMmedia is a general-audience music, culture, marketing, and entertainment publication. The website isn’t directed to children under 13.

HLMmedia doesn’t knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13.

A parent or legal guardian who believes that a child under 13 has submitted personal information to HLMmedia may contact us at hlm.submissions@gmail.com. We will review the request and take appropriate action.

Individuals under 18 shouldn’t purchase promotional services or enter into agreements with HLMmedia without the involvement and authorization of a parent, legal guardian, manager, or other adult legally authorized to act on their behalf.

19. Your Privacy Choices and Requests

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the right to request that HLMmedia:

Confirm whether we maintain certain personal information about you
Provide access to certain personal information
Correct inaccurate personal information
Delete certain personal information
Limit or object to certain uses of information
Provide information about categories of information disclosed to service providers

To submit a request, contact hlm.submissions@gmail.com and describe the information or interaction involved.

We may request reasonable information to verify your identity and authority before processing a request.

We may deny or limit a request when permitted by law or when retaining the information is reasonably necessary for:

Editorial or journalistic purposes
Freedom of expression
Published or archival content
Contract administration
Accounting or tax records
Fraud prevention
Security
Legal claims
Compliance with law
Protecting HLMmedia or another party

A privacy request doesn’t automatically require HLMmedia to remove accurate, newsworthy, editorial, archival, publicly available, or legally protected content.

You may control cookies through your browser settings and may use available Google Analytics opt-out tools.

20. Email Communications

HLMmedia currently doesn’t collect email addresses through a newsletter signup, account-registration system, or general mailing-list form on HLMmedia.com.

When you voluntarily email HLMmedia, we may use your email address to:

Respond to your message
Review or discuss a pitch
Arrange an interview
Coordinate a feature
Administer an authorized paid service
Communicate about an existing editorial or business relationship

HLMmedia doesn’t currently use voluntarily submitted email addresses for an unrelated general marketing list.

If HLMmedia later introduces a newsletter or marketing-email program, this Privacy Policy may be updated, and recipients will be provided with an appropriate method to unsubscribe.

Operational, contractual, payment, or transaction-related emails may still be sent when necessary to administer an active relationship.

21. No Sale of Personal Information

HLMmedia doesn’t currently sell personal information in exchange for money.

HLMmedia also doesn’t currently use website visitor information to operate its own cross-context behavioral advertising program.

Third-party embedded platforms and analytics providers may independently collect or process information under their own policies. Their activities aren’t controlled by HLMmedia.

If HLMmedia’s advertising or information practices materially change, we may update this Privacy Policy and provide additional choices where reasonably required.

22. Do Not Track and Browser Signals

Some browsers offer “Do Not Track” settings or other privacy signals.

Because there isn’t one universally accepted standard for how websites must respond to every browser signal, HLMmedia.com may not respond to all such signals.

You may still limit cookies and tracking through your browser settings, device controls, Google settings, or available opt-out tools.

23. International Visitors

HLMmedia is based in the United States and primarily operates for a United States audience.

If you access HLMmedia from another country, your information may be processed and stored in the United States or in other locations where our service providers operate.

Privacy and data-protection laws in those locations may differ from the laws in your country.

By voluntarily interacting with HLMmedia, you acknowledge that information may be processed in connection with the activities described in this Privacy Policy, subject to applicable law.

24. Changes to This Privacy Policy

HLMmedia may update this Privacy Policy when our website, technology, services, business practices, partnerships, payment systems, advertising practices, or legal obligations change.

The revised Privacy Policy will be posted on this page with an updated effective date or last-updated date.

Your continued use of HLMmedia.com after an updated policy is posted means that the revised policy will apply to future interactions, to the extent permitted by law.

25. Contact HLMmedia

Questions, concerns, submissions, or privacy requests may be directed to:

HLMmedia
Email: hlm.submissions@gmail.com
Website: HLMmedia.com