The International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has confirmed the music industry will adopt Friday as the new ‘global release day’ from this summer.
In a bid to combat piracy and online illegal downloading, all albums will now be released on the same day around the world, as major markets including the US and UK fall in line with other countries such as Australia and Germany which already have Friday as their release day.
“A global release day makes sense for one overwhelming reason – it meets the needs of the music consumer,” said IFPI CEO Frances Moore.
“In today’s globalised world, it makes no sense for new music to be released to fans on different days of the week. At the same time, we view this as a tremendous opportunity to breathe new life back into the release of music.
“Friday has a compelling logic to it, at the start of the weekend when fans most want to listen to and buy music, which is why it has been chosen as the day.”
Independent labels have been leading the call for the adoption of a global release day, but had hoped Monday – the current day most music in the UK comes out – would be taken on worldwide.
