While this has been in the works for some time now, it looks like record labels around the world are finally adopting a global release for new music. Here in America, that means that instead of Tuesdays, music will be released on Fridays. According to Billboard, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), who represent labels worldwide, did a study finding that 7 of 1o consumers in 7 different countries were in favor of the release on Friday or Saturday. Their target is a 12:01AM release on Fridays by this Summer. IFPI head Frances Moore explained the reasoning in a note on their site:
Music fans live in the digital world of today. Their love for new music doesn’t recognise national borders. They want music when it’s available on the internet – not when it’s ready to be released in their country. An aligned global release day puts an end to the frustration of not being able to access releases in their country when the music is available in another country. This is particularly prevalent in a world united by social media, where fans can instantly see friends or family in other countries enjoying the music they want.
This makes a lot of sense. It will definitely cut down on piracy, which is a concern. Albums being available in other parts of the world in advance of their release in North America has almost certainly cut down on record sales. It’s not going to be easy to get 50 different countries to adjust to the same day, but it’s definitely a move that will make sense once it’s implemented.
