photo: Rough Trade NYC on Record Store Day 2014 (more by Amanda Hatfield)



After being talked about for a while, Billboard confirms that Friday will be the global release date for new records starting this summer. It's an amendment to the current system where albums become available at different dates in different countries (the US release day is currently Tuesday). From the article:



"Music fans live in the digital world of today," wrote IFPI head Frances Moore. "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."

The proposal wasn't met with hosannas from every corner of the industry, however. While most agreed that a globally agreed-upon day for new music was best, there was some consternation over the choice of Friday. "The only justification for a Friday release date would be if it resulted in a net increase in sales," Entertainment Retailers Association Kim Bayley said in early October. (Sales weren't central to the IFPI's justifications for the move, though combating piracy could be considered the same thing.)

Just this week, Beggars Group chairman Martin Mills said: "I fear this move will also lead to a market in which the mainstream dominates, and the niche, which can be tomorrow's mainstream, is further marginalized. I fear it will further cement the dominance of the few -- and that is exactly what it is intended to do."

Movies and music all on the same day... will this change anything for you?