User:Michig/Sensible inclusion criteria for future albums

Albums scheduled for release in the future are a regular source of discussion and disagreement here, with many finding their way to WP:AFD. We have the WP:CRYSTAL guideline which is regularly misused as an argument for deletion, and the WP:HAMMER essay, which is too often slavishly followed.

Notability
Put simply, an album by a notable artist for which their is sufficient verifiable information for at least a short article is notable. The fact that it is yet to be released does not affect this. We (quite rightly) have articles on albums that were recorded but never (officically) released as these form an important part of an artist's career. Sensible guidelines for future articles are:


 * 1) Albums that have yet to be recorded are neither notable nor do they merit an article (they may never happen).
 * 2) Albums by notable artists that have been recorded, or are in the process of being recorded, are notable if there is sufficient verifiable information to at least support a short article. (c.f. Notability (films))
 * 3) Albums with insufficient verifiable information are not notable nor do they merit an article.
 * 4) Knowing the title of an as yet unreleased album means nothing with regard to its notability.
 * 5) Knowing the full tracklisting of an as yet unreleased album means nothing with regard to its notability.

Articles on albums that fail 2 above should not be created.

A good rule of thumb is to ask the question: "If this album was to never be released, would we have sufficient content for an article as an unreleased album?" If the answer is yes, then the article should not be deleted.

An article that states verifiable information about a future album and indicates its scheduled release date is NOT violating WP:CRYSTAL.

Stand-alone article or section in artist article
Aside from the issue of notability, the other main consideration is whether or not we should have an article on the album. Content is best included in a section of the article on the artist until such time that there is sufficient content that this would leave that article unbalanced (other more important albums by the artist may be briefly mentioned there and covered in separate articles, for example), when a separate article would become appropriate.

To AFD or not to AFD
Articles should not be taken to AFD (in the interests of not wasting everybody's time) if:
 * The album is by a notable artist (sufficiently notable that significant coverage will be likely), and
 * The album has a confirmed release date in the near future

Record labels and artists usually publicise their albums and coverage starts to emerge up 1-2 months prior to release. Taking hours of editors' time discussing an album that is going to be notable *real soon* is not a good use of our time.