Cookie Policy

Last updated: 24 July 2026

This policy explains how Country Music Factory (“we”, “us”) uses cookies and similar technologies on this website, and how you can manage your choices. It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. Similar technologies such as your browser’s local storage work in much the same way. They let a site remember your actions and preferences, keep you logged in, and — where you allow it — help us measure how the site is used.

How we ask for your consent

When you first visit, we show a cookie banner. Strictly necessary cookies are always active because the site cannot work without them. All other cookies — our analytics cookies and embedded media (YouTube, Google Maps) — are switched off until you choose to allow them. You can accept all, accept only the essential cookies, or open “Manage preferences” to set (or reject) each category, and you can revisit that choice at any time using the Cookie Settings control in the footer or above.

Your choice is stored in a first-party cookie on your device (cmf_cookie_consent). We do not keep a separate record of it on our servers, and we’ll ask you again after about six months, or sooner if this policy changes.

Categories of cookies we use

1. Strictly necessary  Always on

These are essential for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They don’t store any information that identifies you for marketing.

Cookie	Provider	Purpose	Retention
PHPSESSID	Country Music Factory (first party)	Maintains your session — keeps you logged in and secures forms as you move between pages.	Session (deleted when you close your browser)
cmf_cookie_consent	Country Music Factory (first party)	Remembers your cookie preferences so we don’t ask on every visit.	6 months
_GRECAPTCHA and related	Google reCAPTCHA	Protects our contact, booking and registration forms from spam and abuse. Loaded only on pages with those forms.	Up to 6 months

2. Analytics

These help us understand which pages are popular and how visitors use the site, so we can improve it. They only load after you allow the Analytics category — nothing is set or sent to Google until then.

Cookie	Provider	Purpose	Retention
_ga	Google Analytics	Distinguishes visitors to produce anonymous usage statistics.	2 years
_ga_<id>	Google Analytics	Persists session state for the analytics property.	2 years
_gid	Google Analytics	Distinguishes visitors over a short period.	24 hours

3. Embedded media

Some pages include content embedded from other providers, which can set their own cookies when it loads. This content stays hidden until you allow the Embedded media category (or choose to load an individual item):

• YouTube — video players on our CMF TV pages (served in privacy-enhanced mode). Until you allow media you’ll see the thumbnail with a play button; nothing loads from YouTube until you press play or allow the category.
• Google Maps — location maps on some event and industry pages, shown as a “Show map” placeholder until allowed.

Once loaded, these are governed by the relevant provider’s own privacy and cookie policies.

Other third-party services

Google Fonts provides the site’s typography. It doesn’t set a cookie, but loading it shares your IP address with Google; because it’s needed for the site to display correctly, we treat it as strictly necessary. You can block third-party content generally in your browser settings.

Managing cookies in your browser

Besides the controls on this site, most browsers let you view, delete and block cookies. Details vary — look for the privacy or cookie settings in your browser’s menu. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may stop parts of the site from working.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we make significant changes to the cookies we use, we’ll ask for your consent again.

Contact

Questions about this policy? Please get in touch.