Music industry “on the verge” of switching to global release day

Towards the end of 2014, plans were revealed to create a “global release day”, with all album and single releases to come out on Friday, worldwide.

According to Music Week, these plans are picking up “widespread support”, with the industry “on the verge” of making a switch.

Frances Moore of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) told the publication: “The good news has been the widespread support we’ve seen around the world for global release day — no one has seriously questioned the concept, the only debate has been about the day. The artist organisations and many retailers and record companies internationally support Friday, and this is backed by consumer research in many countries.”

Martin Millis raised doubts about the success of a global release day, claiming it could harm independent labels. “The market leaders were always going to push this through,” he told Music Week. “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 marginalised. I fear it will further cement the dominance of the few – and that that is exactly what it is intended to do.”