Promotional images as temporary cover art (generally for limited/special editions)

MusicBrainz
1

Hey folks,

Is there a consensus on using promotional images as temporary placeholders for identifying releases and/or as actual images?

I’ve done this on a number of limited/special edition releases without issue but with recent edits, aware there could be some issue so looking for some advice.

As an example, see the upcoming GTA6 soundtrack release group and an associated edit by me and by another user (I admit I missed noting the ‘source’ while going through on this occasion, though web store links are related to the Release properly).

Intention:

  • These images provide additional proof of a limited edition’s existence, beyond transient online store pages and pure trust in original edits.
  • Poor but accurate imagery can be replaced with better quality imagery if/when available later on (similar to how some albums on streaming are partially released ahead of time, and we use [unknown] as title filler until the info is available).
  • Some limited editions number in only the hundreds worldwide (e.g. some RSD releases), so there’s a fair chance they won’t ever get good quality pictures taken or scanned by a MusicBrainz/Discogs user; these images are taken from store pages so are somewhat official.
  • In many cases, the variations in limited editions include one or more alternate artworks, and/or one or more variations to the vinyl colouring. This can be hard to describe in just disambig text alone, but an image can be more helpful. For example with the GTA6 soundtrack release group, there’s two alternate art options to begin with, and six of the nine vinyl colour options include some variation of pink.

My interpretation of wiki guidance

With reference to Cover Art - MusicBrainz Wiki :

  • These aren’t fan-made or fan-edited; they’re direct from a commercial source which in some cases includes official artist or record label stores (eg, GTA6 store, OK Go store)
  • “Regarding physical releases, the best method is to use an imaging device such as a scanner” - agreed, noting best method is not sole method and it would be great if these placeholders did get replaced down the line
  • There are no obvious notes on the images I use suggesting “artwork TBC”, “not final”, etc, in those cases they would not be used
  • They’re presented exactly as downloaded from the store websites (in most cases; in rare cases screenshotting tools are used) to ensure no misrepresentation of them by doing my own cropping / editing

Is there an overall community view on this?

2 Likes
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If I am doing this for a pre-release then I write Promo Image as the comment. Once I buy the CD I’ll get that image replaced with scans.

It does sometimes mean an LP may be left sitting there with a promo-mockup shot of what it may look like… the important thing is it is labelled as what it is.

If post release someone then takes down the Digital mock-up Images from these it makes sense. By then there should be an actual release image for the Release group.

5 Likes
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Until the releases are available I see no way to confirm the promotional images are accurate depictions.

Tangentially:

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Yeah, they may turn out to be inaccurate, but I suspect that’s less common than it being accurate - or accurate enough for a temporary starting point.

Thanks @IvanDobsky I’ll start annotating the images better as temporary promo images.