1. How this site uses cookies
Cookies are small data records that browsers attach to web requests. Browser local storage can remember website preferences without sending those values with every request. The Collective uses essential cookies to keep account sessions secure and an optional first-party preference record to remember whether third-party music players may load.
No optional music player is needed to browse the website or use a Discord login. The information in this Policy applies to The Collective website, its Creator Hub, and published Artist or Producer pages.
2. Essential login and security cookies
These first-party cookies are used only when their associated sign-in or session flow requires them. They are not controlled by the optional-media setting.
collective_creator_session: HTTP-only, signed Creator Hub session; expires in approximately 24 hours (or at sign-out).collective_creator_oauth_state: protects Discord authorization against login-request forgery; expires after approximately 10 minutes and is cleared following callback.collective_admin_session: authenticates restricted administrator access; expires after approximately 8 hours (or at sign-out).collective_admin_oauth_state: protects admin sign-in; expires after approximately 10 minutes and is cleared following callback.
Session cookies are configured with HTTP-only attributes and secure transport on HTTPS. Browser session handling, expiry, and logout may cause actual storage times to be shorter.
3. Optional third-party music players
Embedded Spotify playlists on the homepage, along with Spotify, YouTube, or SoundCloud playback in Discovery Vote, are optional. These providers can collect connection or device information and may set cookies or other browser storage when you enable their players.
The Collective does not set or control the names or expiry dates of third-party cookies. For details, see the providers' current policies: Spotify, YouTube / Google, and SoundCloud.
Until you opt in, the homepage displays a local placeholder instead of contacting Spotify's embedded player, and Discovery Vote does not initialize third-party playback libraries. If you turn optional players off, currently loaded players are stopped or unloaded. Previously stored provider cookies may remain until you clear them using your browser or the provider's controls.
4. Your choice and its duration
We record your choice as collective.cookie.preferences.v1 in first-party browser local storage, with the consent schema version, a yes/no media setting, and the date of your latest choice. We ask you to renew this choice after approximately six months; you can also clear browser site data or change devices/browsers to reset it earlier; it is not transmitted as a cookie and is not linked by this setting to an account.
We offer equally accessible Accept and Reject actions before loading optional players. You can change the choice at any time, including after previously accepting. If storage is disabled, your choice can apply only to your current page visit.
5. Other data and external links
Creator Hub records limited signed-in activity; published creator pages record aggregate visits and clicks. These first-party features do not use visitor-identifying analytics cookies. The Collective does not currently install advertising cookies or a separate third-party web analytics SDK.
Music platform links, externally hosted artwork and thumbnails, and other external sites may process information when your browser requests their content. The optional music-player setting governs embedded players and related SDKs; it does not block every external image or a destination you choose to open. For more details, read our Privacy Policy.
6. Questions
Contact The Collective administrators through the Collective Discord server with questions about cookies or privacy. This Policy may change as site features or providers change.