Global release debate trundles on, Mondays possible?

As labels and music retailers get used to the world being less split up into individual territories, and more one global marketplace, there have been moves over recent months to introduce a single, planet wide day for all music to be released.

The first proposal for a global street day for new releases came back in August. Because Internet piracy can happen as soon as music is available anywhere, it was quickly accepted as being in everyone’s interest to do away with the variation in the current system.

The decision as to which day should become the global release day has not been an easy one. Lots of different interests have come up, but the essential ends are now between indies & retailers (arguing for a Monday), and majors & digital platforms (arguing for a Friday). Admittedly there have been some exceptions to this simplified standoff, such as the Australian retailers being happy to keep their Friday release day.

The majors and digital platforms are arguing that Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the best days for the majority of consumers to buy their products, so Friday makes enough sense. Logical yet sales driven, it is a rationale that pays little heed to the physical world that retail groups are fighting to have recognised. Indie and retail bodies yesterday argued that a Friday release day would be more costly to more people, disrupting current structures. This includes a few factors, such as the ability to react to problems with physical distribution or high demand before the busy weekend period, or, due to the publishing and video industries having followed suit in the UK and US, the understanding that’s developed in consumers of when to get ‘new stuff’.

The indie labels have sided with retailers because, in the words of Alison Wenham, chair of the Association of Independent Music: “Supporting independent retailers is a core principal of independent record companies…If the retailers’ view is that Monday is the best day for new releases — why would we argue otherwise? They are after all the experts in retail.” What is certain is that this has become a highly partisan debate, and likely an arena for the two sides to posture about more than just the central issue. Another certainty is that without concessions, this one won’t be over by Christmas.

(Photo: Paul Hudson)