Each album review contains one track pick, and AMG publishes new reviews every day on its website. Each review contains a pick. This is relevant only to the context of a limited body of work and therefore has a limited amount of relevance outside of the album. However, track picks also apply to wider and further-reaching reviews and features. For example, in the discography entries for artists and bands with multiple releases, one album is selected as the pick.
Part of the reason AMG picks are regarded as a definitive stamp of approval is the lack of fanfare. The picks are denoted with a subtle check next to the selected work. No links to downloads or flashing banners are used to highlight the pick. For those unfamiliar with the AMG format, there is typically a key at the bottom of the review explaining what the symbols mean. Next to the check it states: "Indicates AMG album pick" or "Indicates AMG track pick."
Due to its perceived impartiality and depth of research, AMG is widely regarded as an authority and credible reference source. The brand has won multiple press awards for its in-depth coverage of music. For this reason, the picks carry a lot of weight. While music appraisal is objective, readers can typically rely on the AMG pick to be free of hype or genre bias and a genuine reflection of the writer's own preference and appreciation of the song in the context of the artist's body of work.
Although the picks are regarded as impartial and unbiased, they occasionally draw comment due to perceived inconsistencies. For example, the album "Fever" by the Welsh band, Bullet For My Valentine, was criticized by the website PopMatters and the BBC, but it was selected as a pick by All Music Guide. Picks sometimes do not correspond with the awarded star rating, although this disparity often reflects the contribution of two writers. One may have reviewed a song that was later released on a different album, a "greatest hits" compilation, for example.