Challenge goal
Preserve more of nu-metal's physical media history together.
Preservation challenge
2026 Nu-Metal Preservation Challenge
Join the community in documenting, preserving and improving nu-metal's physical media history. Earn preservation points for accepted contributions: verified information, scans, logs and more.
October 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026 (Eastern Time)
Challenge ends in
Ends Dec 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Overview
Who can participate
Anyone with an account. Staff contributions earn lifetime points but aren't ranked.
Earn points
Complete preservation tasks, submit verified information and improve existing records.
Current progress
Time remaining
78 days, 9 hrs
Ends Dec 31, 2026 (Eastern Time)
Total submissions (this challenge)
69
Active contributors
10
- dandin
- (sic)ness
- ANovelInMay
- Danny
- +6 more
Recent challenge activity
View all activity- ANovelInMay corrected an archive record +2 pts
- (sic)ness added band members for Falling Down +33 pts
- dandin added artist information for System of a Down +30 pts
- dandin added artist information for Evanescence +32 pts
- dandin added artist information for Satisfucktion +28 pts
Challenge tasks
Where to start
The highest-scoring gaps in the archive right now. Each list links straight to records that need the information.
- +20 Complete matrix + mastering SID + mould SID 40,575 variants without matrix or sid codes See the list
- +20 Add detailed sourced biography 7,335 bands without a biography See the list
- +10 Add front cover image 40,467 variants without scan notes or images See the list
- +10 Complete confirmed lineup 7,408 bands without members listed See the list
How points are scored
Points are added only when a contribution is accepted. Where a rule says it replaces or totals other awards, they don't stack. Staff earn lifetime points but aren't in the contest standings.
Artist Information
Up to +20
-
Add country +2
Only when previously unknown.
2,462 bands without a country -
Add city/state/location +5
Full location; replaces country-only award.
7,529 bands without a city -
Add formed/start year +5
Previously unknown.
4,348 bands without a confirmed start year -
Add end/disbanded year +5
Previously unknown.
4,351 bands without a confirmed end year -
Add complete active-year range +10
10 total; do not stack start + end + range.
-
Confirm artist is still active +3
Requires a reliable source. Awarded by staff during review.
-
Add/correct artist status +3
Active, disbanded, hiatus, etc.
-
Add short factual biography +10
Meaningful original information.
7,335 bands without a biography -
Add detailed sourced biography +20
Substantial biography/research with source support.
7,335 bands without a biography -
Add official/historical website +3
Valid relevant URL.
Band Members
Up to +10
-
Basic member/role entry +1
Low-effort structured entry such as Band Member 1 - Vocals.
7,408 bands without members listed -
Named member + role +2
Confirmed member identity and role.
7,408 bands without members listed -
Detailed confirmed member +3
Name, role, tenure and source context.
7,408 bands without members listed -
Add missing role to existing member +1
Adds a role to an existing member.
-
Add member tenure/years +2
Adds years to an existing member.
-
Complete confirmed lineup +10
10 total; requires explicit staff confirmation and a substantial member contribution.
7,408 bands without members listed
Member awards from one submission add up to at most +10.
Artist Images
Up to +10
-
Band logo +5
Previously missing and usable quality.
7,521 bands without a logo -
Band/group photo +10
Previously missing and identifiable.
7,313 bands without a group photo
Music Releases
Up to +10
-
Add previously missing release +10
Must be a legitimate distinct release.
1,297 bands without releases listed -
Correct release title/year +3
Meaningful correction.
-
Add full release date +5
Previously unknown or year-only. Awarded by staff during review.
-
Identify unknown release type +5
Album, EP, Demo, Single, etc.
-
Add label +3
Previously missing.
-
Add catalog number +5
Physical release identifier.
32,278 variants without catalog numbers -
Add barcode +5
Valid barcode.
40,554 variants without barcodes -
Add front cover image +10
Previously missing.
40,467 variants without scan notes or images
Physical Variants
Up to +20
-
Add new documented physical variant +20
Must genuinely be a distinct version.
-
Add variant country +3
Variant-specific.
-
Add packaging details +5
Tray, slipcase, inserts, stickers, etc.
40,594 variants without packaging details -
Add matrix/runout +10
Physical-media identifier.
40,575 variants without matrix or sid codes -
Add mastering SID +5
Previously missing.
40,575 variants without matrix or sid codes -
Add mould SID +5
Previously missing.
40,575 variants without matrix or sid codes -
Complete matrix + mastering SID + mould SID +20
20 total instead of stacking the three component awards.
40,575 variants without matrix or sid codes -
Identify promo/advance/reference copy +5
Requires evidence. Awarded by staff during review.
Research / Discovery
Up to +50
-
Confirm undocumented demo/CD-R +25
Evidence required; staff-reviewed award. Awarded by staff during review.
-
Confirm previously undocumented release +25
Must genuinely be new to the archive. Awarded by staff during review.
-
Major rare/lost release discovery +50
Staff-reviewed high-value discovery. Awarded by staff during review.
-
Add useful historical/research source +5
Must materially support archive data. Awarded by staff during review.
Corrections / Verification
Up to +10
-
Minor factual correction +2
Actual factual correction, not formatting cleanup.
-
Significant metadata correction +5
Wrong year/type/catalog/etc. Awarded by staff during review.
-
Major identification correction +10
Wrong artist/release/variant relationship. Awarded by staff during review.
-
Verify uncertain existing metadata +3
Requires independent evidence.
-
Resolve a Needs Review item +5
Must materially settle the issue. Awarded by staff during review.
Leaderboard
Ranked by contest points, then accepted scored contributions, then earliest time reaching the tied score.
| Rank | Contributor | Points | Scored contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | (sic)ness | 704 | 20 |
| #2 | Danny | 227 | 6 |
| #3 | Private contributor | 197 | 6 |
| #4 | dandin | 90 | 3 |
| #5 | Private contributor | 86 | 2 |
| #6 | Private contributor | 51 | 1 |
| #7 | Private contributor | 16 | 1 |
| #8 | Private contributor | 13 | 1 |
| #9 | ANovelInMay | 2 | 1 |
Recent activity
- ANovelInMay corrected an archive record +2 pts
- (sic)ness added band members for Falling Down +33 pts
- dandin added artist information for System of a Down +30 pts
- dandin added artist information for Evanescence +32 pts
- dandin added artist information for Satisfucktion +28 pts
- Private contributor added release information for 32 Leaves – Panoramic +16 pts
- Danny added physical media details for Lykin – American Nightmare +61 pts
- Private contributor added release information for Deadsy – Deadsy +13 pts
- (sic)ness added band members for Gnosis +23 pts
- (sic)ness added band members for Imprint +33 pts
- (sic)ness added artist information for Second Childhood +30 pts
- (sic)ness added physical media details for Teardrop – Immaculate Reception +46 pts
- (sic)ness added band members for Hattory +36 pts
- Private contributor added artist information for Even the Dead Love a Parade +53 pts
- Private contributor added physical media details for [BiOTECH] – Demo 2004 +46 pts
- Private contributor added artist information for Abaddon RD +51 pts
- (sic)ness added artist information for F.S.N. +28 pts
- Private contributor added artist information for Ovnimeat +13 pts
- Private contributor added artist information for Strik-9 +5 pts
- Private contributor added physical media details for Strik-9 – Strik-9 +46 pts
- Private contributor added physical media details for Strik-9 – Sampler +46 pts
- Private contributor added physical media details for Strik-9 – Philadelphia in Ruins +41 pts
- (sic)ness added artist information for Diskord +39 pts
- Private contributor added artist information for Northwest Royale +33 pts
- (sic)ness added artist information for Asbestos +56 pts
How the challenge works
- Who can take part
- Anyone with an account. Staff (editors and admins) earn lifetime points for their work but aren't ranked.
- What counts
- Contributions submitted from Oct 1 through Dec 31, 2026 (Eastern Time). A submission made by Dec 31 still counts if it's approved after the challenge ends.
- When points are added
- When a contribution is accepted. Rejected submissions earn nothing, and if an accepted contribution is later reversed, its points are removed.
- Ties
- The contributor with more accepted contributions places higher. If that's tied too, whoever reached the score first places higher.
- Final standings
- Settled once every submission made by Dec 31 has been reviewed.
Need help getting a submission right? Read the submission guidelines.
Prizes
- 1st place Your choice of a laptop or a desktop computer.
- 2nd place The computer the 1st place winner didn't choose.
- 3rd place A $20 gift card for the store of your choice, such as Depop or Amazon.