Throughout history, music has consistently reflected the world around. Clearly the 2010s were no different. There was an emergence of new genres and sub-genres, streaming platforms were increasing the visibility of artists and accessibility of songs, and social media was expanding communication worldwide.
The music industry changed drastically during this time.
EDM was birthed and exploding in popularity, music festivals were attracting millions of music fans all over the world and there was such a mix of fresh ideas, creativity, and innovation in technology.
New Music Tuesday
In the 1980s, US record labels released new music on Tuesdays because Billboard Magazine updated its weekly charts on Wednesdays. If an album was released on a Tuesday, it would allow seven days of sales to go toward the total (including a full weekend).
Do you remember going to school and discussing the new music that was released with your friends or running to the ? New Music Tuesday was a staple in the culture.
December 13, 2013
Ironically, Beyoncé just celebrated the ten year anniversary of her 14-track, self-titled, fifth album last week. But what’s the big idea?
Not only was her visual album the fastest-selling in iTunes history, it skyrocketed to #1 in over 100 countries almost immediately with no promotion. Not a crack, not a leak, not a peep. 🤐
On Friday the 13th.
Like a thief in the night.
The surprise digital drop that changed the music industry with no singles
And it was only available on iTunes as a full album for $15.99. While She just tiptoed onto Instagram back when she had 8 million followers (vs 319 million today) and tossed a post at us captioned “Surprise!”
It wouldn’t be the first time Beyoncé would break the internet.
While artists were, and still are, releasing songs one crumb at a time, she threw the whole entrée at us.
This moment in culture and music history not only stamped Beyoncé as a boundary-pushing icon, but it also set a new standard for artist autonomy and creativity. She relinquished control and was the trajectory that changed the landscape and business model of the entire industry.
Traditionally, artists rely on labels for so much and then don’t have any say in their own craft and passion. Beyoncé didn’t use the big label industry perks that they gaslight artists to believe is necessary. With this industry-shifting move, she took away so much of the label’s power and shifted the trajectory of music distribution and release.
She's even been labeled as a pioneer in using social media to share her music and engage with fans. Her influence has played a key role in making social media a crucial tool for artists in today's digital era.
So basically Beyoncé gave the finger 🖕🏽to the big wigs who sit at a big round table and run the industry, and instead she built her own table and chair and did whatever the hell she wanted.
“[..Beyoncé] taught every artist how to flip the table and challenge archaic business practices." -Taylor Swift, Time Magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year 👈🏽 (click it)
July 10, 2015: Global Release Day (New Music Friday)
The Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) decided that Tuesday was the new day music would be released. The decision to make Tuesday the designated release day aimed to create a consistent schedule for both physical and digital release, and to maximize sales during the first crucial week of a new album's launch.
Billboard tracks sales from Friday to Thursday each week so if a song or album launched on a Friday enjoys the benefit of being tracked for the entire seven-day weekly cycle.
Allegedly, strategic move to combat piracy and leaks in the age of instant access.
This not only addressed the challenges posed by the digital era but also empowered artists to reach a broader international audience immediately.
Everyone had access to new music on the same day, creating a unified global release day that transcended geographical boundaries. This also allowed for more strategic marketing campaigns and increased collaboration between artists and streaming platforms.
Friday is now the preferred day for dropping new music because it’s the same day streaming services refresh their catalogs.
Friday not only aligned with the global release schedule, it gave artists a better chance to chart on Billboard's Hot 100 and giving them a full week of sales while people have more free time to listen to music during the weekend.
I surprised myself with highlighting Beyoncé today.
I may not be part of the 🐝 BeyHive, and I don’t know the lyrics to her songs; however her contributions to music and visual media, use of technology and social media to connect to her audience, spirit of innovation, and influence towards cultural shifts are all undeniable.
This is a teachable moment for all of us.
Define your own meaning of success.
This involves identifying personal goals and fulfillment rather than relying solely on external measures like trends, streams, fame or money. It's about aligning your creative journey with your unique aspirations, allowing for a more authentic and satisfying creative experience.
Everything else will adjust.
The music industry is constantly evolving and will continue evolving.
The transition from New Music Tuesdays to a global Friday release day was a pivotal moment in the music industry's history. It reflected the industry's adaptability in the face of technological advancements and the changing habits of music consumers. As we continue to witness innovation in how we create and consume music.