Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein provide methods and systems for archiving data over long periods of time, monitoring data archive storage condition, and preventing the loss of archived data. One exemplary embodiment provides a method of monitoring media storage that comprises receiving a piece of content for storage in a content archive system and storing the piece of content on a long-term storage medium of the content archive system. The method further comprises checking the long-term storage medium to determine a measure of condition of the long-term storage medium. This checking of the long-term storage medium occurs according to a checking policy, such as a spot checking policy. The method may also comprise automatically migrating the piece of content to another long-term storage medium when the measure of the condition of the long-term storage medium exceeds a threshold value.