This Friday the whole world will get new music, together

This Friday will be the first global New Music Friday.

Historically new music had been released here in the US on Tuesdays. France and the United Kingdom typically release on Mondays, Canada also goes for Tuesdays, Japan releases on Wednesdays, and Australia, Ireland and Germany release on Fridays. But this coming Friday — and for every Friday afterward — all these countries will drop new albums and singles together.

This change has been coordinated by the the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (in conjunction with record companies, music retailers, artist representatives, and chart operators from 45 markets all over the world.)

Release days were originally a calculation of how to best get physical records into stores and out to consumers in a unified manner. "Having Tuesdays as a release date was an artifact of physical retail," explained Larry Miller, a professor of music business at NYU-Steinhardt, in a call on Monday, "Historically, Monday was a day to clean up after the important retail from the weekend, restock the records sitting in a storehouse or warehouse, and get new shipments ready in time for Tuesday."

Today, with music largely released digitally, the main concern is when consumers are most likely to click "download."

The IFPI conducted studies across eight national music markets and concluded that most people wanted new music at the start of the weekend, and that Friday is the optimal day for people to get into physical stores or to share their finds on social media. The shift also allows for artists and labels to focus all of their advertising into one global release, and streamline marketing.

The change is also partially a move to prevent piracy. "Say there's a fan in Germany or Italy who just can't wait for the record that was already released in the US, and would do anything, including visiting a site they wouldn't usually visit, to download the record illegally," said Miller, "If that record was available legally, on the same day for them, then there is at least the possibility of less piracy."

Not everybody is happy with the shift. Some independent musicians and record companies simply do not have the resources to release music on a global scale and unveil a global marketing campaign. The shift in release day is not a law, and so theoretically these independents could continue releasing music whenever they chose. Though as Miller explained: "No the move in release day is not legally binding. But if 3 major retailers who control 70 percent of the market move at the same time, those who don't move will sort of be left in the cold."

Still there will of course be exceptions. Many countries in Asia will release domestic music on different days. In Japan, local music will continue to be released on Wednesdays.

“Today’s recorded music industry operates in an increasingly borderless world," said Edgar Berger, international chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, "Hits can come from anywhere and spread everywhere. Some superstars have already launched their albums simultaneously worldwide, now all artists will be able to reach their global fan bases on the same day. It’s good news for music fans everywhere.”