GLOBAL RELEASE DAY TO GO AHEAD FOLLOWING INTERNATIONAL CONSULTATION

26 February 2015 - Press release

Following consultation with artists, musicians unions, record companies and retailers, it was confirmed today that the release day for new music will be aligned internationally on a Friday.
 
Release days currently vary from one country to another, causing frustration for consumers when music fans in other parts of the world can access new releases before them.  As well as helping music fans, the move will benefit artists who want to harness social media to promote their new music.   It also creates the opportunity to re-ignite excitement and a sense of occasion around the release of new music.
 
The move to an aligned global release day will also reduce the risk of piracy by narrowing the gap between release days in different countries.
 
Retailers internationally are committed to working with the labels and artist communities to ensure the successful implementation of the move to Friday.
 
From summer 2015, new albums and singles will be released at 00:01 local time on Fridays. Music consumers everywhere will know to look for new releases on Fridays regardless of where they are.
 
Consumer research by TNS across seven markets[1] shows Friday and Saturday as the most preferred days for new music release among consumers who expressed an opinion.  More than two thirds of those with a preference (68%) chose Friday or Saturday.
 
The move to a global release day follows several months of discussions between group representing retailers, record companies, artists and musicians unions.
 
The global release day consultation has included:
 
·         IFPI, representing some 1300 record labels worldwide;
·         FIM, representing musicians’ unions and associations globally;
·         Featured Artists Coalition representing UK performers;
·         Leading retailers and representative organisations, including  Australian Music Retailers Association (AMRA), E.Leclerc, El Corte Inglés, Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) (UK), HMV, Italian Association of Specialist Consumer Electronics Retailers (AIRES), Media-Saturn, Music Business Association (Music Biz US), Mondadori Retail, the Orchard,  Rdio, Spotify, Napster.