Cookie Policy
Last updated: July 5, 2025
1. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our website. They help us provide you with a better experience by remembering your preferences and enabling certain functionality.
2. How We Use Cookies
2.1 Essential Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly:
- Session Cookies (PHPSESSID): Enable basic website functionality, user authentication, and admin access
- Security Cookies: Protect against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks
- Cookie Consent: Remember your cookie preferences
- User Authentication: Keep you logged in during your session and remember your login status
- User Preferences: Store your artist preferences (listened/hidden) and discovery settings
2.2 Functional Cookies
These cookies enhance your experience:
- Remember your filter preferences on the discovery page
- Maintain your browsing session and user account state
- Store temporary data for form submissions and artist interactions
- Remember your discovery preferences to avoid showing artists you've already interacted with
2.3 Analytics and Tracking Cookies
We use analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our website:
- Click Tracking: We track clicks on streaming links, navigation elements, and discovery features to understand user preferences and improve our service
- Usage Analytics: We collect data about which artists, songs, and releases are most popular
- Performance Monitoring: We track how users navigate through the site to optimize user experience
- User Behavior Analysis: For logged-in users, we track which artists you mark as "listened" or "hidden" to personalize your experience
- Discovery Patterns: We analyze how users interact with our discovery features to improve recommendations
- Premium Analytics: Aggregated data may be shared with artists and management teams who have premium subscriptions to help them understand their content performance
3. Cookie Details
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| PHPSESSID | Essential for website functionality, user login, and admin access | 30 days (keeps you logged in) |
| csrf_token | Security protection against attacks | Session |
| musiate_cookie_consent | Remember your cookie preferences | 1 year |
| tracking_session | Anonymous session tracking for analytics | Session |
| user_logged_in | Remember your login status and user preferences | Session |
4. What We Track
Our tracking system collects the following information to improve our service:
4.1 For All Users
- Click Data: Which streaming links, navigation elements, and features you interact with
- Content Preferences: Which artists, songs, and releases you're interested in
- Usage Patterns: How you navigate through the discovery features and browse content
- Technical Information: Page URLs, user agent, referrer information (for technical optimization)
- Anonymous Session Data: Session identifiers (not linked to personal identity unless you have an account)
4.2 For Logged-In Users
- Artist Interactions: Which artists you mark as "listened" or "hidden"
- Discovery History: Your discovery patterns to personalize future recommendations
- Account Activity: Login times, preference changes, and account management actions
- Personalized Analytics: How your preferences affect your discovery experience
Note: For users without accounts, tracking data remains anonymous. For users with accounts, some data is linked to your account to provide personalized experiences.
5. Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings and our cookie banner:
5.1 Cookie Banner Options
- Accept all cookies: Enable full website functionality including analytics and personalization
- Essential cookies only: Allow only necessary cookies while blocking analytics tracking
5.2 Browser Settings
- Block all cookies: May limit website functionality and disable user accounts
- Delete cookies: Remove stored cookies from your device (will log you out)
- Private browsing: Prevent tracking and cookie storage
Important: Blocking essential cookies will prevent you from logging in or using account features like artist preference tracking.
6. Browser Settings
Most browsers allow you to:
- View cookies stored on your device
- Block cookies from specific websites
- Delete cookies when you close your browser
- Set notifications when cookies are set
- Enable private/incognito browsing to prevent tracking
7. Third-Party Cookies
We may use third-party services that set their own cookies:
- Payment Processors: For premium subscription processing (governed by their privacy policies)
- Hosting Services: For website infrastructure and security
- PayPal: When you use our donation feature, PayPal may set cookies to process your payment securely (governed by PayPal's privacy policy)
We do not share our tracking data with third parties for advertising purposes.
8. Data Retention
- Session Cookies: Stored for up to 30 days or until you log out
- Preference Cookies: Stored for up to 1 year or until you change settings
- Analytics Data: Retained for operational purposes and service improvement
- Account Data: Retained until you delete your account
9. Your Consent and Choices
9.1 Consent Management
By continuing to use our website, you consent to our use of essential cookies. For analytics and tracking cookies, you can choose your preference through our cookie banner.
9.2 Withdrawing Consent
You can withdraw consent at any time by:
- Clearing your browser cookies
- Adjusting your browser settings to block cookies
- Using private/incognito browsing mode
- Deleting your user account (removes all account-linked data)
9.3 Account-Specific Choices
If you have a user account:
- Manage your artist preferences in your account dashboard
- View your discovery history and interaction data
- Delete specific artist interactions or your entire account
- Control how your data is used for personalization
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or tracking, please contact us at:
- Email: privacy[at]musiate.com
11. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Changes to our data collection practices will be clearly highlighted.