An aligned single global release day for music takes effect from today, with tracks and albums to be released at 00.01 on Fridays each week in more than 45 countries
Starting today, Friday 10th July, new music releases will be made available for fans to enjoy on the same day across the world, as the switchover is made to “New Music Fridays”.
Until now, tracks and albums have been released on different days of the week in different countries – from Mondays in markets such as France and the UK, through Tuesdays in the US and Canada and to Fridays in markets such as Australia and Germany.
The change means that fans can now get new music on the same day worldwide rather than having to wait for their own national release day. It replaces the patchwork of national release days which meant fans were frustrated and unable to access music in their own country when it was legally available elsewhere.
The switchover to “New Music Fridays” is being implemented by labels, retailers and artists internationally and will establish an aligned global release day in more than 45 countries. Of these, 11 countries already release music on Fridays.
“Brands who wish to partner musicians and want to conduct a branded promotion on a different day will not be affected…”
Brands who wish to partner musicians and want to conduct a branded promotion on a different day will not be affected, as release days are not legally binding in any given market. It is therefore possible for some artists and labels to launch individual albums or singles on different days. In some markets, such as Japan, local repertoire may be released on a separate day. But the intention is that all international repertoire will be released on Fridays across the world.
The initiative is being coordinated by IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), a not-for-profit international organisation registered in Switzerland with offices in London, Brussels, Hong Kong and Miami, plus a representative office in Beijing. There are 57 countries with IFPI affiliated national groups or music licensing companies, and their member companies operate in 62 markets. It represents some 1,300 record labels worldwide and its Honorary Chairman is Plácido Domingo.
In addition to the IFPI, the switch to global “New Music Fridays” has been overseen by an international steering group made up of WIN-Impala, FIM, Featured Artists Coalition representing UK performers, Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) (UK), and Music Biz (US).
“The switch to New Music Fridays is about getting new music to fans at the time they most want to enjoy it, whether in physical stores or online. It’s also an opportunity to recreate excitement around the release of music – the message is “Think Friday, Think New Music,” said Frances Moore, Chief Executive of IFPI.
The first “New Music Friday” worldwide
There are several albums being released on the first “New Music Friday” including Years & Years’ Communion (Polydor), Owl City’s Mobile Orchestra (Republic), Little Boots’ Working Girl (Repeat Records), R5’s Sometime Last Night (Disney), Veruca Salt’s Ghost Notes (El Camino) and Kidz Bop’s Kidz Bop 29 (Razor & Tie).
Singles releases in key markets include Little Mix’s Black Magic (Syco) and Nick Jonas’ Chains (Island) in the UK and Taio Cruz’s Do What You Like (Island).
Independent research suggests that music fans wanted new music to be available at the start of the weekend. Consumer research by TNS across seven markets shows Friday and Saturday as the 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 New Music Fridays will also lead to many countries making changes to their charts as well. Public music charts in most countries reflect a week’s sales, so changing the release day to Friday means changing the chart week as well. For example, in the UK the BBC will launch its first Friday chart show, having moved it from Sundays, and in France the TV station D17 will be moving its weekly featuring the latest charts from Tuesday to Friday.
For more information of New Music Fridays, click here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAJXxl24Y_w
