After debating for the past few months, the music industry will no longer release albums and other new products on Tuesdays.
Starting this summer, all around the world, new music will be available for purchase on Fridays, according to Billboard.
The decision will unify the release day for music everywhere. As of now, the industry releases new products on different days depending on the country. That practice has led to a serious hit in sales thanks to Internet piracy -- music becomes available to pirate digitally once it is released, regardless of country.
"Music fans live in the digital world of today. Their love for new music doesn't recognise national borders," International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) head Frances Moore wrote in a blog post on IFPI.org. "They want music when it's available on the Internet - not when it's ready to be released in their country. An aligned global release day puts an end to the frustration of not being able to access releases in their country when the music is available in another country.
"This is particularly prevalent in a world united by social media, where fans can instantly see friends or family in other countries enjoying the music they want."
Not everyone in the music industry is a fan of the change which, according to Billboard, picked up steam after Beyoncé's suprise album in December 2013 was released on a Friday and sold well.
"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 marginalized," Beggars Group founder Martin Mills said to Billboard. "I fear it will further cement the dominance of the few -- and that is exactly what it is intended to do."
As The Verge points out, the decision may come under more fire because it is judging what is best for artists that have a following like Beyoncé, one of the most popular performers on the planet. Furthermore, many artists let their new music leak on big industry publication sites, such as Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, before it is up for purchase.
