Music Industry Seeking Global Release Date for All New Albums
According to a report by Billboard, those in the music industry are “on the verge of adopting” a policy that’ll make new releases come out on 
the same day across the globe. As it stands, different territories have different release dates.
Industry insiders have told the publication that the decision to make this adjustment is so that worldwide music piracy can be limited. Australia currently makes music releases available on Fridays, meaning that pirates down under can make music available to those in the UK and North America, regions that wouldn’t usually be able to get new music until Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
However, while it’s been noted that major labels – along with the IFPI and RIAA – are ready to take the release day decision away from territories, there has been some backlash from independent retailers and independent artists.
Billboard says that both parties like the Monday and/or Tuesday release strategy, knowing that dedicated fans will come in that day and purchase music from one of their favourite artists. What’s more, that crowd of buyers is usually followed-up by those who get paid at the end of the week, and prefer to buy music after they cash a cheque on a Friday. Thus, indie artists and shops fear that a downturn in business could occur.
Reads the Billboard article: “This global streetdate is necessary for the industry but unfortunately it will be awkward for the physical retailers to change their ways of doing business,” says one label executive. “Now, they could have two-thirds of their sales in one day,” which would impact retail operation.
While this concept is reportedly being pushed by those within the music industry, that collective will not exactly have an easy time with the switch either. There’s talk that this date shift could result in the revamping of how music charts work, while scheduling promotional appearances for artists will become much trickier.
Sources believe this change will come into effect in July 2015.
What do you think? Is this a concept that you, the music fan, can get behind and appreciate?
-Adam Grant
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