From The Stem · Standards

Editorial Policy

Last updated: 2026-06-14

From The Stem is an independent editorial publication of Mollohan Production Inc., covering the working business of independent music: distribution, streaming strategy, royalties and ownership, artist development, and the modern music industry. This policy explains how we decide what to publish, who writes it, and the standards every piece must meet before it goes live. It is the standing reference for our newsroom and a public commitment to our readers.

1. What we cover and why

We write for working independent artists and the producers, developers, and rights holders around them. Our editorial priority is the practical mechanics of an independent career, the decisions an artist actually faces, rather than hype, trend-chasing, or recycled growth hacks. We favor durable frameworks that hold up after the trend cycle passes over advice that expires in a quarter.

Topic selection is driven by reader demand and editorial judgment about what is under-explained elsewhere. We aim to be the clearest available source on a question, not merely another page that exists.

2. Who writes for us

Articles are published under named bylines or the From The Stem staff byline. Our editorial roster is published on our Editorial Team page. Short-form and reference work carries the staff byline; longer analysis and operator-experience pieces may carry an individual byline where firsthand work adds value.

Every article, regardless of byline, is held to the same factual standard and the same review process described below.

3. Independence from artist services

From The Stem shares a parent company, Mollohan Production Inc., with MPIArtist, our artist-development arm. Editorial decisions are not coordinated with MPIArtist sales, signing, or marketing activity. When an article references an MPIArtist project, the relationship is disclosed in the article. We do not sell coverage, and we do not present paid placements as editorial.

4. Accuracy and the no-fabrication rule

We do not invent facts. We do not fabricate quotes, chart positions, awards, partnerships, reviews, metrics, or sources. Awards, sales, and credits are verified against public records before they appear in print. Where a number, date, or claim cannot be verified to our standard, we either omit it or state plainly that it is unconfirmed.

When we present analysis derived from our own observations, we label it as such and attach the disclosure in section 6.

5. Sources and verification

We work from primary sources wherever possible, official platform documentation, rights organizations, public filings, and the organizations closest to the facts, and corroborate against established industry trade reporting. Our full source standard and citation practice is set out in our Sources and Citations Policy, and the way we conduct original analysis is documented in our Research Methodology.

6. Original data and disclosure

Some of our analysis draws on operator-level observation rather than published third-party data. Where that is the case, we include this disclosure:

FTSMusic analysis is based on anonymized aggregate artist data, internal campaign observations, and publicly available industry documentation. Individual outcomes vary by catalog, genre, audience quality, and release strategy.

We do not publish identifiable private data about any individual artist, and aggregate observations are framed as educational trends, not guarantees.

7. Corrections and updates

When we get something wrong, we fix it and say so. Corrections are posted with the original article and dated. Our full process is described in our Corrections Policy.

8. AI use

From The Stem uses software tooling in its production workflow, but editorial judgment, factual standards, and final responsibility rest with the publication and its editors. We do not publish machine-generated claims that have not been checked against our source standard, and we do not fabricate sources or data through any tool.

9. Standards summary

No paid placements presented as editorial.
No fabricated quotes or invented chart positions.
Awards, sales, and credits are verified against public records.
Corrections are posted with the original article, dated.
Editorial coverage is not coordinated with artist-services sales or signing.

10. Contact

Mollohan Production Inc. · MPIArtist · Castle Rock, Colorado, USA. To raise an editorial question, suggest a correction, or report a concern, use the official contact channel provided by MPIArtist or the From The Stem subscription workflow.