Friday Is New Universal Release Day For Music

Starting July 10, the internationally-recognized day to release new music will be Friday, according to the IFPI. The move means that fans in countries around the world, including the U.S., can all access new music at the same time universally, instead of on a variety of different days as in the past. The global release day, dubbed “New Music Fridays,” will be effective in more than 45 countries around the world.

Preparations for the switchover involved record companies, distributors and retailers all working together to reconfigure their supply chains and marketing practices. Charts in some countries are also changing in alignment with the new international release day. The move has been overseen by an international steering group made up of the IFPI, representing some 1,300 labels worldwide; WIN-Impala, representing independent labels worldwide; FIM, representing musicians’ unions and associations globally; Featured Artists Coalition representing UK performers; Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) (UK); and Music Biz (US).

“Like so much of modern life, the borders between countries have broken down with the advent of the Internet,” commented Cary Sherman, RIAA. “Marketing buzz generated by the labels we represent—and the ensuing appetite it builds for today’s artists—does not stop at national borders. Music has become more global than ever, and fans eagerly discover, share and inform their friends and followers of their favorite artists through a variety of social media platforms. Fans demand instant access to their favorite artists and newly discovered songs. The beginning of the weekend is fans’ favorite time of the week and we hope to tap into that excitement with new music. On top of that, consumer research across multiple markets, including the United States, shows Fridays and Saturdays as the most preferred days for new music releases. With this change, the objective is to better leverage weekend foot traffic in retail outlets and harness the growing buzz behind a new album or song that builds across national markets.”

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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