Beggars Group boss Martin Mills speaks out against ‘Global Release Day’
Last September, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) proposed Friday for the Global Release Day. At the time stating it brings the most benefits overall for the industry at a global level.
Now, IFPI CEO Frances Moore has said told Music Week: “artist organisations and many retailers and record companies internationally support Friday,” suggesting IFPI has decided to press ahead with the decision to move all territories in line with Australia and Germany. Currently Australia and Germany releases all singles and albums on Friday, which means a monumental switch for the US and UK; albums and singles are released on Monday in the UK and Tuesday in the US.
While the decision involving 50 national markets will undoubtedly have many detractors, it’s perturbed Beggars Group founder and chairman Martin Mills, who called IFPI’s consultation of retail customers for the proposed date “a charade.”
Speaking in front of 110 music retailers today at the launch of the newManifesto from the UK trade group Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) in London, Mills said the IFPI had Friday in their sights all along and didn’t truly consult consumers.
“It astounds me that the major labels are not listening to their customers, their interface with their artists’ fans,” Mills said. “I fear their consultation has been a charade, and the market leaders were always going to push this through.”
Mills also expressed his concern over the denouncing of the Monday and Tuesday release dates and the lack of resources retailers will have to stock the shelves on Friday to ensure they are prepared for the hike in weekend sales and patronage.“Whilst I acknowledge the needs of a digital world for co-ordination, it seems to me to be crazy to throw away one of the trading week’s two peaks, and the ability to re-stock and rectify errors before the week’s second peak."
“[…] 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.”
Mills’ concerns do carry weight; single releases are often tailored to each country and staggered over time depending on the campaign strategy.
:: Australian Industry weighs in on proposed 'global release day'