Opera News: Journal of Music and Performing Arts is committed to providing authors with a rapid, efficient, and rigorous editorial and peer-review process. The journal seeks to minimize unnecessary delays while maintaining high academic, ethical, and editorial standards.
All research manuscripts are evaluated through a single-blind peer-review process, in which reviewers know the identities of the authors, while reviewer identities remain confidential.
Target Editorial Timeline
The journal aims to follow the approximate timeline below:
| Publication Stage | Target Time |
|---|---|
| Initial editorial screening | 2–5 days |
| Assignment to the handling editor | 2–4 days |
| External peer review | 10–20 days |
| First editorial decision | 15–25 days after submission |
| Author revision | 7–21 days, depending on the decision |
| Evaluation of the revised manuscript | 3–10 days |
| Final decision after satisfactory revision | 3–7 days |
| Copyediting, typesetting, and proofreading | 5–10 days |
| Online publication after final approval | 3–7 days |
Initial Editorial Screening
After submission, each manuscript is checked for:
- Relevance to the journal’s aims and scope;
- Originality and scholarly contribution;
- Compliance with submission requirements;
- Quality and clarity of presentation;
- Research and publication ethics;
- Plagiarism or inappropriate text duplication; and
- Availability of the required declarations and supporting information.
Manuscripts that do not meet the journal’s basic requirements may be returned to the authors for technical correction or declined without external peer review.
Peer-Review Process
Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to an appropriate editor and normally sent to at least two suitably qualified reviewers. Reviewers are requested to submit their reports promptly and to assess the manuscript’s originality, methodology, argument, evidence, relevance, presentation, and contribution to music and the performing arts.
Possible editorial decisions include:
- Accept;
- Minor revision;
- Major revision;
- Resubmit for review; or
- Reject.
A rapid editorial process does not mean that peer review is shortened or compromised. Manuscripts are accepted only after they have satisfied the journal’s scholarly, ethical, and editorial requirements.
Revision and Final Decision
Authors are normally given a defined period in which to submit a revised manuscript and a detailed response to the reviewers’ comments. Minor revisions may be assessed directly by the handling editor, while major revisions may be returned to the original reviewers or evaluated by additional experts.
Once the required revisions have been completed satisfactorily, the editor makes the final publication decision.
Production and Publication
Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting, typesetting, author proofreading, and final production. Authors are expected to review and return their proofs promptly to avoid publication delays.
Following approval of the final proof, the article is prepared for publication in the next available monthly issue or published online according to the journal’s production schedule.
Important Notice
The stated timelines are editorial targets rather than guaranteed deadlines. The actual processing time may vary depending on:
- The complexity and subject area of the manuscript;
- Reviewer availability;
- The number and quality of reviewer reports required;
- The extent of revisions requested;
- Delays in receiving revised files or author proofs;
- Ethical, authorship, copyright, or research-integrity concerns; and
- Additional technical or editorial checks.
The journal does not compromise the quality or independence of peer review merely to achieve a faster publication decision.