Need help finding references or citations for Wiki bio I'm writing.

June 8, 2023 12:17 PM

I'm writing a Wikipedia biography for a friend of mine who is a musician, and I've got a problem to do with references.

My friend is a successful musician/composer and author of music books. I carefully read the Wikipedia requirements for notability. I believe he fulfills them, but now that I'm being asked to prove it, I'm flummoxed.

He has worked extensively in music, and the list of his projects takes up most of the bio page. He's written books, composed music for films, and done a lot of work with well-known corporations. He's collaborated with several high-powered people, but he's far from being a household name himself.

I wrote the article and submitted it for publication on Wiki. I got an automated note warning me that my article has no references, and it's likely to be rejected if I don't add some.

The issue is that though my subject has written several books himself (which I list on the site) and has collaborated with other authors on their books, his name doesn't appear in other people's books or articles.

My friend is the featured artist on a web site with a certain theme. The site founder and my friend's collaborator is a famous actor. I'm wondering whether I should ask my friend to have this person interview him for their site. Would a link to an online interview count as a reference according to Wiki? I've pored over the Wiki manuals without turning up an answer.

I would enjoy hearing from anybody with familiarity with writing or editing Wiki biographies. Thank you!

posted by cartoonella to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

The Wikipedia requirements have changed quite a bit over time, mostly as a defense mechanism against self-promotion. That strictness does sometimes catch up otherwise notable people who don't have a traditional media footprint. I've tried to write articles for activists and drag stars with broad influence and been stymied because the New York Times doesn't produce articles on them. Not that your friend is doing this, but is so easy to publish a book or CD today that there are a lot of people who just throw a few pieces of schlock on Amazon and try to self-cite their way to a Wikipedia page.

You need multiple reputable third-party references that establish notability. Each of the four parts (multiple, reputable, third-party, and notability) is required. So my first step would be to search in Google News and Google Books for your friend. If there isn't anything there, it's going to be a tough row to hoe. Not that it isn't possible to use alternate sources, but they are going to have to be that much stronger.

I would also ask myself if the reason I am making this page is becuase it's well-deserved and overdue, or because I admire my friend. Not that friends can't make good Wiki pages, but it is harder that way. I've added a few dozen, and none is someone I know directly.

Finally, a page showing up without references is a huge red flag to the editors, because it likely indicates that the rest of the page is going to need a lot of work. If you have the time, adding the correct infobox, short description, categories, a correctly Creative Commons-licensed picture (which is almost certainly not taken by a professional!), etc. will go a long way toward making it look like something that belongs on Wikipedia.
posted by wnissen at 12:57 PM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]

So my first step would be to search in Google News and Google Books for your friend.

Also IMDB for his film music!
posted by the tartare yolk at 1:01 PM on June 8, 2023 [4 favorites]

I’m a musician bio writer by trade these days. In my experience, even if his name isn’t credit as artist, as long as there’s someone could Google and find it, that works. Also consider sites like AllMusic which are trusted by music journalists. You could try other databases like ASCAP.

If the celebrity is open to giving a testimonial on your friend’s site or professional Facebook, that could be your reference.

PM me if you have questions: I love writing bios.
posted by mermaidcafe at 1:42 PM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks so much for your responses, guys, I appreciate it!
posted by cartoonella at 3:16 PM on June 8, 2023