Contents
1. Overview
Boston Bandmates ("we," "us," or "our") operates the website bostonbandmates.com (the "Site"). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and share information when you visit our Site.
By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we operate.
In short: We run a free musician classifieds aggregator. We use Google Analytics to understand how people use the site, and Google AdSense to serve ads that help keep it free. We don't collect or store personal information about visitors beyond what these third-party services use.
2. Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
If you use our contact form, we collect the information you submit (name, email address, and message). This information is processed by our form provider and used only to respond to your inquiry.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit the Site, certain information is automatically collected by us and by third-party services we use, including:
- IP address (anonymized where possible)
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Pages visited and time spent on the Site
- Referring URL (the page that linked you here)
- General geographic location (country/region, not precise)
- Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)
This data is collected through cookies and similar technologies by Google Analytics and Google AdSense (see sections below).
3. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate and improve our Site. Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your web browser.
Types of Cookies We Use
- Analytics cookies — Set by Google Analytics to measure how visitors interact with the Site (pages viewed, session duration, traffic sources). These are used in aggregate and do not personally identify you.
- Advertising cookies — Set by Google AdSense to serve personalized or contextual ads. These may use your browsing history and interests to show you relevant advertisements.
Managing Cookies
You can control and/or delete cookies via your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies. Note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some features and the ads you see.
Instructions for popular browsers:
4. Advertising — Google AdSense
Boston Bandmates uses Google AdSense to display advertisements on the Site. AdSense helps keep the Site free to use. Google AdSense is operated by Google LLC.
How AdSense Works
Google AdSense uses cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this site and other sites on the internet. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to our Site and/or other sites on the internet.
Personalized vs. Non-Personalized Ads
Google may use information about your browsing history to show you personalized ads. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ad Settings, or by visiting AboutAds.info.
Third-Party Advertising
Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website or other websites. You may opt out of Google's use of cookies by visiting the Google Ads Settings page. You may also opt out of some third-party vendor cookies via the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.
For more information on how Google uses data from sites that use its advertising services, please see: How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.
5. Analytics — Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics (operated by Google LLC) to understand how visitors use our Site. Google Analytics collects information such as how often users visit the Site, what pages they visit, and what other sites they used prior to coming to our Site.
We use the information we get from Google Analytics only to improve the Site. Google Analytics collects only the IP address assigned to you on the date you visit this Site, rather than your name or other identifying information. We do not combine the information collected through the use of Google Analytics with personally identifiable information.
Google's ability to use and share information collected by Google Analytics about your visits to this site is restricted by the Google Analytics Terms of Service and the Google Privacy Policy. You can prevent Google Analytics from recognizing you on return visits to this site by disabling cookies on your browser or by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
6. Third-Party Links
Boston Bandmates aggregates listings from third-party platforms including Craigslist, BandMix, Facebook, and others. All listing cards on our Site link to their original source pages on these external platforms.
When you click through to an external site, you leave bostonbandmates.com and are subject to the privacy policy of that third-party site. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of any third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any site you visit.
Third-party sites we link to include:
7. How We Share Information
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:
- Service providers — We share data with Google for analytics and advertising purposes as described above. These providers are bound by their own privacy policies and data processing agreements.
- Legal compliance — We may disclose information if required by law or in response to valid legal process.
- Business transfer — If the Site is acquired or merged, user information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
Beyond these circumstances, we do not share your information with any other third parties.
8. Your Choices & Opt-Out Rights
You have several options to control how your data is used when visiting our Site:
Opt Out of Personalized Advertising
- Visit Google Ad Settings to opt out of Google's interest-based advertising.
- Visit AboutAds.info to opt out of participating member companies' ads.
- Visit Network Advertising Initiative for additional opt-out options.
Opt Out of Google Analytics
- Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Manage Cookies
- Adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies (see Section 3 above).
Contact Form Data
- If you contacted us via our contact form and would like us to delete your message, email hello@bostonbandmates.com and we will delete it upon request.
9. Children's Privacy
Boston Bandmates is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete such information.
10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) provides you with certain rights regarding your personal information.
Your CCPA Rights
- Right to Know — You have the right to request that we disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
- Right to Delete — You have the right to request that we delete personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions.
- Right to Non-Discrimination — We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.
- Right to Opt-Out of Sale — We do not sell your personal information. If this changes, we will update this policy.
To exercise your CCPA rights, please contact us using the information in Section 11. We will respond to verifiable consumer requests within 45 days.
Do Not Track
Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) setting. Our Site does not currently respond to DNT signals, as there is no industry-standard mechanism for doing so. We will continue to monitor developments in this area.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
- Email: hello@bostonbandmates.com
- Contact form: bostonbandmates.com/contact.html
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.