A1
Leading
Top relative band
Represents the strongest relative standing within the selected comparison lens.
Methodology
Public snapshot methodology
This page explains how BIAN badges are read, what A1-A4 actually mean, and which public signals shape visible publisher standing across different comparison lenses.
Publisher tiers
Understanding BIAN tiers
BIAN surfaces four named benchmark bands for eligible records. Publishers without enough public evidence remain outside the quartile system and should be read as missing-data or not-eligible profiles rather than ranked tiers.
A2
Strong
Upper relative band
Shows strong standing in the selected comparison set, with meaningful visible profile strength.
A3
Recognized
Recognized relative band
Represents visible standing within the selected comparison set and still qualifies as a recognized badge level.
A4
Listed
Entry relative band
Represents the bottom eligible quartile within the selected comparison set. Records without enough public evidence remain outside the quartile system instead of receiving an A-tier badge.
How tiers are read
The same publisher can show different tiers
A publisher may qualify for different badge results depending on the comparison lens used in the badge. This does not mean a lower band is a failed profile. It means the publisher sits in a different relative position within that chosen comparison set.
General profile
Compared with all tracked publishers in BIAN's publishing ecosystem.
Focus category
Compared within the publisher's main category, such as children's publishing.
Home market
Compared with publishers based in the same country or home market.
What informs a tier
Signals behind the badge
Identity
Website, branding, contact details, and profile clarity.
Activity
Catalog recency, title releases, and visible publishing continuity.
Discoverability
Retail links, media visibility, and institutional presence.
Evidence quality
How complete, recent, and verifiable the visible public signals are.
Public evidence first
BIAN only shows what it can support through public records, visible catalog evidence, and structured validation signals.
Snapshots, not hidden judgments
The public surfaces explain what is visible and fresh; they do not expose internal scoring mechanics as black-box decisions.
Enterprise views are analytical
The enterprise lenses aggregate footprint, mix, activity, and coverage so institutions can monitor the market without reading every profile one by one.
Requests stay traceable
Correction and ownership workflows are designed to be reviewable rather than disappearing into one-way form submissions.
Surface map