Friday Is the New Global Record Release Day
"After many months of discussions with groups across the music sector, today [Feb. 26] we are announcing an important milestone for our whole sector -- the plan to implement an aligned global release day."
So writes the head of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, Frances Moore. That "aligned global release day" will be Friday, and it will begin sometime this summer. "New releases will be issued at 00:01 on Fridays," Moore says.
If you're asking yourself, "Why does a global release day matter in the 21st century," Moore addresses your concerns:
It is what our consumers want. Music fans live in the digital world of today. Their love for new music doesn't recognize 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.
She also notes that a global release day is about "celebrating new music." IFPI argues that creating a universal day for new music will "re-awaken the the excitement and anticipation of new music everywhere."
According to their website, the IFPI "is the voice of the recording industry worldwide," representing 1,300 "companies from across the globe." You can find out more about what they do here.
(Billboard is reporting that the Department of Record Stores -- an organization that represents independent shops across the country and was influential in the beginning, and continuation, of Record Store Day -- pushed for the global release day to be Tuesday.)
As a consumer of new music, do you agree that there should be one consistent day each week when new music is released, regardless of where you live or where you buy music? Let us know what you think of the news of the global release day in the comments section below.