IFPI Announces New International Standard of Friday as New Music Release Day; American Agencies Protest

A decision that we figured would cause more of a media hullabaloo has been settled: New music albums will now universally be released on Fridays instead of Tuesdays. The conversation between the world's largest music markets has been going back and forth for half a year but ultimately European representatives won out in proposing the Friday release date, as opposed to a universal Tuesday release, in the tradition of what Americans already expect (from Billboard).

"Music fans live in the digital world of today," said Frances Moore, head of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. "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."

Her choosing to ignore the shrinking level of buyers of physical albums was evident in the statement, and several bodies opposed to the Friday option voiced their disagreement following the announcement.

Some suggested that moving the official release date to Friday would only hurt smaller releases, which would get caught up in the blockbuster-culture that has overwhelmed the film industry. Others suggested that the IFPI should at least offer some evidence that a Friday release date would have a positive influence on album sales (which the organization hasn't). Finally, the Department of Record Stores, a North American trade organization, stated that Tuesday should be adopted as to ease the process (and losses) of the U.S. and the UK, the world's two largest music markets, both of whom use Tuesday.

Ultimately however, one has to question Moore's logic regarding "the digital world of today." Does that world necessarily call for a set release date? Drake and Beyoncé seemed to have done fine dropping an album out of the blue.