The Journal of Music Research Online is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in the publication of research and scholarship in the field of music. This Code of Ethics outlines the responsibilities of editors, authors, reviewers, and publishers to maintain integrity, rigor, and fairness in all aspects of the publication process.
Fairness and Impartiality: Editors will evaluate manuscripts based solely on their academic merit (originality, clarity, significance, and relevance to the field of music) without regard to the author’s race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, institutional affiliation, or other personal characteristics.
Confidentiality: Editors and editorial staff will treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents and will not disclose information about submissions to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or Management Committee, as appropriate.
Decision-Making: Publication decisions will be made based on the manuscript’s intellectual content, alignment with the journal’s scope, and peer review feedback. The Managing Editor has the final authority on acceptance or rejection.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Editors will recuse themselves from handling submissions in which they have a conflict of interest (e.g., personal or professional relationships with the author). Any such conflicts must be disclosed to the Managing Editor.
Addressing Misconduct: Editors will investigate allegations of plagiarism, data fabrication, or other ethical breaches promptly and fairly, following COPE ( Committee on Publication Ethics ) guidelines where applicable. Retractions or corrections will be issued as necessary.
Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must submit only original work and properly cite or quote the work of others. Plagiarism in any form—including self-plagiarism (reusing one’s own previously published work without acknowledgment)—is unacceptable.
Authorship: All listed authors must have made a significant contribution to the research or manuscript. “Guest” or “honorary” authorship is not permitted. All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.
Data Integrity: Authors must ensure the accuracy of their data and provide access to raw data (e.g., musical transcriptions, recordings, or analytical datasets) if requested by editors or reviewers for verification purposes.
Multiple Submissions: Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Submission to the Journal of Music Research Online implies that the work is not under consideration elsewhere.
Disclosure: Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest (e.g., funding sources, affiliations with music organizations, or personal relationships) that could influence the research or its interpretation.
Corrections: Authors are obligated to promptly notify the editors of any significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions.
Objectivity: Reviewers will provide constructive, unbiased feedback based on the manuscript’s quality, originality, and relevance to music scholarship, avoiding personal criticism of the author.
Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential and not use any unpublished information for personal gain or share it with others without editorial permission.
Timeliness: Reviewers will complete reviews within the agreed-upon timeframe or notify the editors promptly if they cannot meet deadlines.
Competence: Reviewers should only accept assignments for manuscripts within their expertise (e.g., music theory, ethnomusicology, historical musicology, performance studies). If unqualified, they should decline the review.
Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest (e.g., collaboration with the author) and recuse themselves if impartiality cannot be maintained.
Integrity of the Record: The publisher will ensure the journal maintains a high standard of scholarship and supports editors in addressing ethical breaches, including issuing retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern as needed.
Access and Preservation: The publisher will work to ensure that published content is accessible, archived, and preserved for future generations of music scholars, adhering to industry standards for digital preservation.
Support for Ethical Practices: The publisher will provide editors with resources and guidance to uphold this Code of Ethics and handle misconduct allegations in accordance with best practices (e.g., COPE guidelines).
Transparency: The publisher will make this Code of Ethics publicly available and ensure that journal policies on submission, peer review, and publication are clearly communicated to all stakeholders.
Copyright and Licensing: Authors must ensure compliance with copyright laws for musical scores, recordings, or other copyrighted materials included in their submissions, providing evidence of permissions where required.
Performance-Based Research: For research involving live performances or recordings, authors must adhere to ethical standards regarding consent from performers and proper attribution of contributions.
Reporting Misconduct: Allegations of ethical breaches (e.g., plagiarism, falsified data, authorship disputes) should be reported to the editor-in-chief or publisher in writing, with supporting evidence.
Investigation: The Managing Editor will conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, giving the accused party an opportunity to respond. External experts may be consulted if needed.
Outcomes: Depending on the severity of the violation, consequences may include rejection of the manuscript, retraction of published work, notification of the author’s institution, or a ban on future submissions to the journal.
Appeals: Authors or other parties may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a formal request to the Managing Editor, who will review the case in consultation with an independent advisory board.
The Journal of Music Research Online is dedicated to fostering an ethical publishing environment. This Code of Ethics will be reviewed periodically to reflect evolving standards in academic publishing and the unique needs of music scholarship. Feedback from the scholarly community is welcomed to ensure its ongoing relevance and effectiveness.