Grooves is a vinyl listening, collection, and equipment tracking app. This Privacy Policy explains how Grooves collects, uses, stores, and shares information when you use the Grooves app and related website at https://groovesvinyl.com.
If you have questions, contact us at info@groovesvinyl.com.
Summary
Grooves is designed to keep most of your data on your device. The current build does not use our own backend account system, does not sell personal information, and does not use third-party advertising or cross-app tracking.
Some features connect to third-party services when you choose to use them, especially Discogs and MusicBrainz. Those services may receive the searches, barcodes, release identifiers, and technical request information needed to provide metadata and collection features.
Information You Provide or Create
Grooves stores information you enter, create, or sync in the app, including:
- Albums, releases, pressings, labels, formats, artwork URLs, barcodes, Discogs release IDs, and Discogs master IDs.
- Play history, listening dates, play duration, partial-play information, and notes.
- Turntables, tonearms, cartridges, styli, setup details, active playback setup, retired equipment, and maintenance/wear tracking.
- App preferences, onboarding state, notification preferences, and other local settings.
- Export files that you choose to create and share from the app.
In the current build, this information is stored locally on your device using Apple platform storage technologies.
Discogs Integration
Grooves can connect to your Discogs account if you choose to sign in with Discogs. Discogs connection is optional.
When you connect Discogs, Grooves may access and store locally:
- Your Discogs username.
- OAuth access tokens needed to keep you signed in.
- Your Discogs collection data.
- Discogs release IDs, master IDs, collection instance IDs, labels, formats, years, countries, artwork URLs, and other release metadata.
Grooves uses Discogs to:
- Search for vinyl releases.
- Look up releases by barcode.
- Load an artist's vinyl discography.
- Show alternate vinyl pressings for a release.
- Sync your Discogs collection into the app.
- Add or remove specific releases from your Discogs collection when you choose to do so.
- Fetch release metadata such as tracklists, runtime, format, and artwork URLs.
Discogs OAuth credentials are stored locally in the iOS Keychain. You can disconnect Discogs in the app's Settings.
Discogs data notice: This application uses Discogs' API but is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Discogs. "Discogs" is a trademark of Zink Media, LLC. Data provided by Discogs.
MusicBrainz Integration
Grooves may use MusicBrainz to supplement release and track metadata, especially when track durations are missing from Discogs.
When this happens, your device may send metadata queries such as artist name, album title, and track count to MusicBrainz. Grooves identifies itself to MusicBrainz using app contact information.
Camera Access
Grooves may request camera access for features you choose to use, including:
- Scanning vinyl barcodes.
- Camera-assisted alignment and setup tools.
Camera access is used for the selected in-app feature. Grooves does not use the camera for advertising or tracking.
Notifications
Grooves may request permission to send notifications. In the current build, notifications are local device notifications for stylus wear or maintenance reminders. They are not used for third-party advertising or cross-app tracking.
Artwork and Cached Metadata
Grooves displays album artwork from Discogs when available. Discogs artwork and metadata may be subject to Discogs' API terms and freshness requirements.
The app may keep short-lived Discogs-derived metadata caches to improve performance, such as artist discography results or release format information. These caches are intended to expire within 6 hours. Grooves does not intentionally store Discogs artwork as a permanent long-term asset.
Some local records may include artwork URLs or metadata identifiers so the app can display the correct release information later.
Data Stored Locally
The current build primarily stores app data locally on your device, including:
- Your local album and release records.
- Play history.
- Rig setup, cartridge, stylus, tonearm, and turntable records.
- Equipment wear and maintenance history.
- App settings and preferences.
- Discogs connection state and limited cached metadata.
OAuth tokens are stored in the iOS Keychain. Other app data is stored using Apple local persistence technologies.
Data Shared With Third Parties
Grooves does not sell your personal information.
Grooves shares information with third parties only as needed to provide features you choose to use:
- Discogs receives searches, barcode lookups, release identifiers, collection sync requests, add/remove collection requests, and related technical request information.
- MusicBrainz receives metadata lookup queries when Grooves attempts to supplement release or track data.
- Apple may process information related to TestFlight, app distribution, crash reports, diagnostics, notifications, local storage, camera permissions, and normal iOS system services.
- If you export your data or use the iOS share sheet, your data is shared only with the destination you choose.
Third-party services have their own privacy policies and terms.
TestFlight and Beta Testing
If you install Grooves through TestFlight, Apple may collect and provide beta testing information such as crash logs, diagnostics, feedback you submit through TestFlight, device information, and usage information related to the beta. This information is handled by Apple under Apple's terms and privacy practices.
If you email us feedback, bug reports, screenshots, or support requests, we will receive the information you choose to send, including your email address.
Data Exports
Grooves lets you export some app data, such as play history or a JSON snapshot of your records. Export files are created only when you choose to export. Once you share or store an export outside Grooves, that copy is controlled by the destination you selected.
Tracking, Ads, and Analytics
The current build of Grooves does not use third-party advertising, does not sell personal information, and does not track you across other companies' apps or websites.
The current build does not include a dedicated third-party analytics SDK. If that changes in a future version, this Privacy Policy will be updated.
Your Choices
You can:
- Use Grooves without connecting Discogs.
- Connect or disconnect Discogs in Settings.
- Choose whether to grant camera permission.
- Choose whether to grant notification permission.
- Add, edit, retire, or delete local equipment records.
- Add or remove specific releases from your Discogs collection when connected.
- Export your data from the app.
- Delete the app from your device to remove locally stored app data, subject to normal iOS behavior.
Deleting Grooves from your device does not delete data stored in third-party services such as Discogs. To manage Discogs account data, use your Discogs account settings.
Data Retention
Local app data remains on your device until you delete it, delete the app, or modify it through normal app use.
Discogs OAuth credentials remain in the iOS Keychain until you disconnect Discogs or delete the app in a way that removes associated keychain data.
Short-lived Discogs metadata caches are intended to expire within 6 hours. TestFlight and Apple diagnostic data are retained according to Apple's policies.
Security
Grooves uses Apple platform security features where appropriate, including the iOS Keychain for Discogs OAuth credentials. No method of storage or transmission is perfectly secure, but we aim to limit data collection and keep most app data local to your device.
Children's Privacy
Grooves is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
International Users
If you use Discogs, MusicBrainz, TestFlight, or other Apple services, your information may be processed in countries other than your own according to those services' privacy practices.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as Grooves changes. When we do, we will update the effective date and post the latest version at:
https://groovesvinyl.com/privacy
Contact
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or Grooves' privacy practices, contact: