Revue des Traditions Musicales

1. General information

Authors are requested to electronically submit their papers using the journal's online manuscript processing platform, Manuscript Manager. All submitted files must use MS Word or Rich Text Format (RTF). PDF files cannot be accepted. All correspondence will occur through email.

2. Language Policy

The Revue des Traditions Musicales accepts manuscripts in three languages: French, English, and Arabic. Manuscripts submitted in French and Arabic must also include the title, abstract, and keywords in English to ensure broader accessibility and indexing in international databases.

3. Types of Articles

The Revue des Traditions Musicales accepts the following types of articles:

• Research articles
• Review articles
• Commentaries
• Book or CD Reviews
• Interviews

4. Ethics and Editorial Policies

4.1. Submission Declaration

Manuscript submission implies that the material contained therein has not been previously published, is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, and is approved for RTM's review by all authors. In addition, if the manuscript is accepted and published, the author(s) understands that it may not be re-published elsewhere including electronically in equivalent form, in English or any other language, without the written consent of the copyright owner.

4.2. Authorship Criteria

RTM follows the authorship recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) . Authorship is based on the following four criteria; an individual must meet all four to be listed as an author:

• Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
• Drafting the work or reviewing it critically for important intellectual content; AND
• Final approval of the version to be published; AND
• Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

All individuals who meet all four criteria should be identified as authors. Contributors who meet fewer than all four criteria should not be listed as authors but should be acknowledged. Artificial intelligence tools cannot be listed as authors. For full guidance, see the ICMJE recommendations on Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors .

4.3. Publication Ethics

The Revue des Traditions Musicales is committed to upholding the highest standards of publishing ethics. All authors must declare that the submission is original and has not been wholly or partially copied or plagiarized. The authors must acknowledge that there are no actual or potential conflicts of interest associated with their work. Likewise, the journal is committed to conducting double-blind, peer reviews to prevent potential conflicts of interest between author(s) and reviewer(s). See the full Publication Ethics statement.

4.4. Plagiarism Policies

RTM utilizes iThenticate to identify possible instances of similar text in submitted manuscripts. You may rest assured that RTM is committed to combating plagiarism and publishing original research. Authors are expected to adhere to the RTM Code of Ethics outlined in this section.

4.5. Quality of Manuscript Writing

Manuscripts published in the Revue des Traditions Musicales are expected to use Standard French, English, or Arabic writing that is free from spelling and grammatical errors. Many authors, regardless of their first language, find that copyediting services are helpful. The RTM editors recommend that author(s) seek such assistance prior to submitting a manuscript. However, given the cost of professional copyediting services, the editors understand that this may not be feasible in all cases. In such cases, the editors recommend that the author(s) ask colleagues to look over drafts prior to submitting a manuscript as simple spelling and grammatical errors are more likely to be noted by readers who are not familiar with a given manuscript.

4.6. Luminous Insights AI Usage Policy

Luminous Insights and its journals are committed to transparency and integrity in research and publishing. The following policy applies to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted tools in the preparation and submission of manuscripts.

4.6.1. Disclosure

Authors must disclose any use of AI or AI-assisted technologies (e.g., large language models, chatbots, writing or editing tools) in the development of their manuscript. This includes use for idea generation, drafting, paraphrasing, language editing, or other stages of the writing process. Disclosure should be made at submission, typically in the cover letter and/or in a designated section of the manuscript (e.g., Author contributions or Methods, where appropriate).

4.6.2. Authorship and Responsibility

AI and AI-assisted tools cannot be listed as authors. The named authors are solely responsible for the content of the manuscript, including for accuracy, originality, and adherence to ethical standards. Authors must verify and take responsibility for all content, including any text or analysis generated or modified with the assistance of AI.

4.6.3. Permitted Use

Limited use of AI for improving clarity, grammar, or language (e.g., spelling and style checks, translation support) may be acceptable when clearly disclosed. Use of AI for structuring references or formatting may also be permitted provided the output is carefully checked by the authors. Any such use must be stated in the manuscript or cover letter as required above.

4.6.4. Prohibited Use

Submitting content that is substantially generated by AI without clear disclosure is not permitted. Fabrication of data, references, or results with AI tools constitutes misconduct. Authors must not use AI in a way that undermines the originality of the work or that could be considered plagiarism. The journal reserves the right to reject or retract manuscripts that violate this policy.

4.6.5. Review and Enforcement

Editors may request clarification or additional information regarding AI use. Failure to disclose AI use as required, or misuse of AI in a manner inconsistent with this policy, may result in rejection, retraction, or other editorial action in line with the journal’s policies on publication ethics.

4.7. Luminous Insights Language Editing Service

Luminous Insights is proud to offer a language editing service to assist authors in ensuring the clarity and correctness of their manuscripts. In partnership with Scribendi, a leading language editing provider, Luminous Insights aims to support authors who may require assistance with language refinement.

Authors can use this service to enhance the quality of their manuscript's language, making it more accessible to readers and reviewers. While this service is optional, it can be valuable for authors seeking to improve the overall readability of their submissions.

This is a voluntary, author-paid third-party service and is not a journal fee. It is separate from the journal’s editorial and peer-review process and does not influence editorial decisions.

Please note that the language editing service provided by Luminous Insights and Scribendi is separate from the manuscript evaluation and peer review process conducted by the Revue des Traditions Musicales. Utilization of this service does not guarantee acceptance or publication of the manuscript.

For more information on how to access this language editing service, please see the Language Editing Service .

5. Submission checklist

The following checklist is provided to assist author(s) as they prepare their manuscript for submission. To submit your manuscript, please create two files:

5.1. File 1: Title Page

The complete manuscript title (not to exceed 12 words) and the name of the author(s) and professional/academic affiliation/s should be placed only on the title page. In addition, the author(s) should include their address, telephone number, email address, author(s) note (if any), and financial disclosure (if any). Furthermore, the corresponding author should be identified on the title page. In addition, subsequent pages should not have authors' names but may contain an abbreviated "running header" at the top.

5.2. File 2: The Main Document (Unidentified Title, Abstract, and Manuscript)

Page 1 should feature the title (with no author identifying information), the Abstract (Times New Roman [Calibri for Arabic], font size 12, single-spaced, no longer than 250 words), and Keywords (up to 8). For manuscripts submitted in French or Arabic, the title, abstract, and keywords must also be provided in English. The Abstract should summarize: 1) the purpose of the research; 2) if applicable, the methodology employed; and 3) the main results.

The Abstract is frequently featured separately from the main manuscript in search engine results and/or databases. Thus, the Abstract must communicate central information in a clear and concise manner. Please do not use abbreviations or acronyms in the Abstract, unless this is unavoidable. In such cases, be sure to provide full descriptions prior to use.

The formal manuscript should begin on page 2. It must be prepared in Times New Roman (Calibri for Arabic), font size 12, with double line spacing and consistent margins throughout, and should not exceed 10,000 words (unless a written exemption is granted by the editor). The word count includes the main text, references, tables, and figures, but excludes any appendices. The manuscript should be organized into multiple sections. First level headers should be centered and in bold. Second level headers should be flushed left, and all words in bold italics. Third level headers should be indented one space.

References should follow the main text beginning on a new page that is labeled, References. All references included in the manuscript must be formatted using APA style (Sixth edition).

No more than three footnotes are allowed.

Tables, figures and musical (examples or) notations should be inserted at the end of the manuscript in a separate section. Their placement within the main body of the manuscript should be clearly indicated, for example, by writing "Insert Table 1 here" or "Insert Figure 1 here." The maximum number of tables, figures and musical (examples or) notations allowed is twelve in total, such as two tables, two figures and eight musical (examples or) notations.

Tables, figures and musical (examples or) notations should be numbered separately, e.g., Table 1, etc., Figure 1, etc. and Musical notation 1, etc. Please indicate table, figure and musical (example or) notation location within the text by stating, "Insert Table 1 about here", for figures, "Insert Figure 1 about here", or "Insert musical notation about here". Be sure to order tables, figures and musical notation in the same order as they appear in the manuscript. Tables provide easy-to-understand summaries information such as relevant past literature, hypotheses, methods, and/or results. Figures are used to present different types of information such as line drawings or graphs, photos, maps, charts, etc.

Formulae and equations must be given unique alphanumeric identification such as A1, A2, etc. Appendix items should use alphabetical headers such as Appendix A, etc. If only one appendix is provided, then it should be listed simply as Appendix.

Information in the text, citations, references, or footnotes that facilitate (through wording) identification of the author(s) should not appear in the manuscript file. The author(s) may include such information following manuscript acceptance.

6. Additional information

6.1. If Invited to Revise

Authors of manuscripts that receive "revise and resubmit" invitations should pay close attention to the reviewers' and editors' recommendations for strengthening the submission's contribution to the field of modal musical traditions. In this regard, authors are asked to provide a detailed set of notes to reviewers and editor/s that number each recommendation that has been copied/pasted from the original notes to author(s). Please also upload a clean version of the revised manuscript as well as a version that included "tracked changes." Also, please be sure to avoid inclusion of any self-identifying information in the notes to reviewers/editor/s. Notes to reviewers/editor/s should be written in 12-point, Times Roman font using single space formatting with standard 1" margins and double spaces between major points.

Reviewers are asked to provide helpful comments/suggestions. While author(s) may not always agree with this advice, the editors hope that author(s) will give reviewers' thoughts very careful consideration and carefully explain changes made in response or reasons for not making changes. In all exchanges, collegial expression is an important guideline to keep in mind.

6.2. If the manuscript is accepted for publication in the Revue des Traditions Musicales

If RTM accepts the manuscript for publication, the corresponding author will receive a set of page proofs (as PDF files) or a link that will enable direct downloading of the file. Author(s) are asked to list corrections (including replies to the Query Form) and return the proof file. The proof should be used only for checking typesetting correctness of the text, tables and figures. Significant changes are not possible at this stage without initiating additional anonymous reviews. RTM will make every effort possible to publish accepted articles in a timely manner. Proofreading is the author(s)' responsibility and the Publisher may proceed with the publication of the article even if no response to proof queries is received.

7. Publishing in the Revue des Traditions Musicales is free of charge

The Revue des Traditions Musicales does not charge submission and acceptance fees for the publication. Also, there are no hidden costs for article processing. RTM is an open-access journal that does not charge fees for downloading articles, nor is there any financial contributions from the author (s). All manuscripts are processed free of charge, and the author (s) does not bear any hidden costs or costs for publication. RTM believes that removing obstacles to scientific publishing and providing access to scientific articles serves scientific progress. There is also no subscription fee to access content or conduct an advanced search within the journal. Luminous Insights and RTM's owner, the Antonine University covers the costs incurred by open access publishing, processing, fees for downloading articles, securing full texts in several permanent archives and cross-references, and enabling electronic citation in other journals that are electronically available.

8. Offprints

The corresponding author, at no cost, will be provided with a PDF file of the article via e-mail. For an extra charge, paper offprints can be ordered via the offprint order form, sent if the manuscript is accepted for publication in RTM.

9. Common Issues That May Lead to Manuscript Return by the Editorial Office

Before a submission is sent out for peer review, the Editorial Office carries out a technical and compliance check. Manuscripts that do not meet the requirements below are returned to the author(s) for correction prior to further processing. Reviewing this checklist carefully before submission can help avoid unnecessary delays.

1. Figures and Tables Not Cited in Text: Every figure and table must be cited within the body text at the appropriate point (e.g., "As shown in Figure 1…" or "The results are summarised in Table 2…"). Figures and tables that are not cited in the text will not be accepted.
2. Figures and Tables Missing Captions: Every figure and table must include a descriptive caption. Figure captions should be placed below the figure; table captions should be placed above the table. Captions must be numbered sequentially (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2; Table 1, Table 2) and must be sufficiently descriptive to allow the figure or table to be understood independently of the main text.
3. Incorrect Reference to Figures and Tables in Text: Figures and tables must always be referred to by their assigned number in the body text. The following positional references are not acceptable and must be replaced by the correct numbered reference:
   • "the figure above" / "the table above"
   • "the figure below" / "the table below"
   • "see the figure below" / "see the table below"
   • "see Table X below" / "see Figure X above"
   • "the following figure" / "the following table"
   • "the figure on the next page" / "the table on the previous page"
   • "the figure overleaf" / "the table overleaf"
   • "the figure/table presented below"
   Please remove all positional language and use only the numbered reference (e.g., Figure 1, Table 2).
4. Source of Figures and Tables Not Provided: Every figure and table must include a source line directly below the caption. If the figure or table is your own original creation, please state: Source: Author's own. If it has been reproduced or adapted from another work, the full reference must be provided and written permission from the rights holder must be obtained where required.
5. Figures or Tables Not Provided: One or more figures or tables referenced in the text are missing from the submission. Please upload all figures at a minimum of 300 dpi with descriptive captions, and ensure all tables are self-contained with clear headings.
6. Similarity Threshold: All submissions are subject to a similarity check. RTM accepts an overall similarity score of no more than 20%, and no single source may account for more than 2% of the total. Authors must paraphrase and cite all borrowed material appropriately to remain within these limits.
7. Author Names and Affiliations in Manuscript Body: The main manuscript body contains author names, institutional affiliations, or other identifying information. This journal operates under a double-blind peer review policy, which requires full anonymisation of the manuscript. Please remove all author names, affiliations, acknowledgements, and any other identifying details from the main manuscript file before resubmitting. This information should appear only on the separate title page.
8. Anonymity Issue: The manuscript or its files contain information that identifies the authors, such as names in the text, acknowledgements, self-referencing citations written in the first person, or file metadata. Please remove all identifying information before resubmitting.
9. Manuscript Formatting: The manuscript must be prepared in Times New Roman, size 12, with double line spacing, margins of at least 2.5 cm, consecutive page numbers, and line numbers throughout. References must follow the journal's prescribed citation style. Please consult the Author Guidelines before resubmitting.
10. Manuscript Submitted in Published Layout Format: The submitted manuscript appears to have been formatted to resemble a final published article, including elements such as multi-column layouts, journal headers or logos, typeset fonts, formatted abstract boxes, or other publisher-style design elements. Manuscripts must be submitted as plain, unformatted Word documents.
11. Manuscript Must Be Submitted as an MS Word File: The main manuscript and/or title page has been submitted as a PDF file. PDF files are not accepted as they cannot be edited during the review and revision process. Please convert your manuscript and title page to MS Word format (.doc or .docx) and resubmit.
12. Title Page Missing: A separate title page file is required, containing author names, affiliations, corresponding author contact details, acknowledgements, and funding information. This information must not appear in the main manuscript body.
13. Supplementary Files Missing: The manuscript references supplementary materials that have not been uploaded. Please upload all supplementary files, clearly labelled and referenced at the appropriate point in the text.
14. Unstructured Abstract: The abstract must be presented as a single continuous paragraph of 150-250 words, without subheadings such as Background, Methods, or Results.
15. Abstract Contains Citations: The abstract must not include any citations or references to the literature. Please remove all in-text citations from the abstract before resubmitting.
16. Abstract Contains Statistical Values: The abstract must not include statistical values, numerical results, p-values, percentages, or any other raw data figures. Please revise the abstract to present your findings in descriptive, narrative form without specific statistical outputs.
17. Conflict of Interest Statement Missing: All submissions must include a conflict of interest statement. If no conflicts exist, please state: "The authors declare no conflicts of interest."
18. Ethics Statement Missing: Studies involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must include the name of the approving ethics committee and the approval reference number. If the study is exempt, a brief explanation must be provided.
19. Data Availability Statement Missing: A data availability statement is required, indicating whether the data supporting the study are publicly available and where they can be accessed. If data cannot be shared, the reason must be stated.
20. Duplicate Submission Detected: The manuscript appears to have been submitted to another journal simultaneously, which is a breach of publication ethics. Please confirm the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere, or provide a withdrawal confirmation from the other journal.
21. Authorship Concern: A query has been raised regarding the listed authors. All authors must meet standard authorship criteria. Please review the authorship list and provide a written clarification or revised declaration signed by all named authors.
22. Copyright or Permissions Issue: The manuscript contains third-party material for which written permission from the rights holder has not been provided. Please upload proof of permission or replace the material with original content.
23. Incomplete Submission: One or more required elements are missing, such as the cover letter, declaration forms, or mandatory submission fields. Please log in to the submission system, review all requirements, and ensure the submission is complete.
24. Incorrect Reference Style: The manuscript does not follow the APA 6th edition referencing style required by RTM. All in-text citations and reference list entries must conform strictly to APA 6. Below are examples of the correct format:
    • Single author: (Smith, 2019)
    • Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2019)
    • Three to five authors: (Smith, Jones, & Brown, 2019)
    • Six or more authors: (Smith et al., 2019)
    • Multiple works: (Brown, 2015; Jones, 2018; Smith, 2021)
    • Direct quotation: (Smith, 2019, p. 45)
    Reference list examples:
    • Journal article: Smith, J. A., & Jones, B. (2019). Title of the article. Journal Name, 12(3), 45-67.
    • Book: Brown, C. D. (2015). Title of the book (2nd ed.). Publisher.
    • Book chapter: Green, E. F. (2018). Title of the chapter. In R. Editor & S. Editor (Eds.), Title of the book (pp. 23-45). Publisher.

10. Citation Practices and Conflicts of Interest

Effective date: 28 August 2026

Authors should cite their own prior work only where directly necessary to support the manuscript’s argument. Self-citation must not exceed 20% of total references, or 5 citations, whichever is lower.

Citations to any single external author or co-author, including current or former editors, editorial board members, or frequent collaborators of the journal, must not exceed 3 citations across the reference list, regardless of whether those works are individually or jointly authored.

Citations to Revue des Traditions Musicales itself must not exceed 2 citations, or 10% of total references, whichever is lower, except in manuscripts whose specific purpose is a review or history of the journal itself.

Any manuscript exceeding these thresholds must include a written justification in the cover letter explaining why this level of citation is scholarly necessary. Manuscripts exceeding these thresholds without an accompanying justification will be returned to the author before review can proceed.

Authors must also disclose, in the cover letter, any current or recent close professional relationship with a member of the journal’s editorial team, including recurring co-authorship, current or former doctoral supervision, shared institutional affiliation, or family relationship, regardless of whether that individual is cited in the manuscript.