Hi all,

I have an open question about writing ethics.

Basically, I was temping for a PR company who send out new releases and have obviously come across some of the bands that they are promoting in writing reviews. Up until now, nothing has been said because the first single of theirs I was asked to review was good. But I recently wrote two negative reviews on artists that they are representing. I've then gone to my article and found that press officers from this PR company have attacked me under what I've written about that release. (I know this because they registered on the site using an email address that I set up for them).

Basically my question is. If you had to write a review on a release that a company that you had previously worked for was promoting would you be nice about it because you knew the people involved? Or would you do what I did and slag the record off it wasn't very good; despite your relationship with these people, and perhaps to the detriment of your relationship with these people?

Is it more important as a music writer to be try to be unbiased than it is to win friend's and influence people?

Or am I showing my naivety to how corrupt the industry is?