To be honest, I don't think I'd add any sections, but I do think there should be subsections.
Like for instance, you would go to Base, and before you see ANY of the threads, there's a subsection called "Artists" or something, where all the artist threads go. It'd make finding the base threads for artists a lot easier, since it's such a popular section that many of the artist bases get 2nd paged.
Also, for Music News, there could be a section JUST for single announcements/discussion and JUST for album announcements/discussion, any other music news would be in the normal section.
Most might be opposed to it being like this, but I think it'd make the sections feel cleaner.
A rates subsection, if a full section would be too dead.
Yes please. It'll be so much more organized for people to know what are the ongoing rates right now and hence potentially increase the number of participants for each rate.
It's tiring to constantly bump the thread every few days or so.
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I wouldn't be opposed to having a whole section dedicated to it, though! 