Last month world circulated that the Recording Industry was planning a global record release day of Friday, condensing various countries scattered mid-week release dates in hopes of boosting sales and slowing down piracy. And now we have a date for this new era: Friday, July 10.
For decades, new releases came out on Monday in the United Kingdom and on Tuesday here in the United States. Now everything will be released on the same day, each Friday, says the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), with an alignment based towards weekend shoppers and catering to people who just got paid.
Here’s more from Music Week, which confirmed the July 10 date this morning:
Last week it was announced that the Official Chart on Radio 1 will be moved to Fridays from July, suggesting that was the month the synchronised release date for new music would come into play too.
The move will bring all territories in line with Australia and Germany, amongst others, but would mean big changes in other countries including the UK and the US.
It’s been met with a mixed reaction from the industry, with [PIAS] co-founder Michel Lambot recently expressing concern about what it could mean for development and local artists.
“If a global chart reigns supreme, development artists and local artists will have to get used to hearing the voice of America, everywhere. Big money, big global campaigns, will dominate,” he said in a blog post. “This can only help the blockbusters become even bigger, for a longer period of time, in more markets.”
However, retailers, the artist community, digital services and distributors have welcomed the move, hailing it a logical change in today’s globalised world.
Last month, as news of the shift started circulating, IFPI head Frances Moore said, in part of a statement: “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.”
Attn shoppers: