I was just wondering how do album leaks work? Is it someone from the artists label that leaks the albums before they are officially released? Do artists agree to it? It just seems most albums these days get leaked early. Not that I'm complaining, I just wondered why? Do you guys think this ultimately helps or hinders the artists sales in the long run??

dancerella said:

I was just wondering how do album leaks work? Is it someone from the artists label that leaks the albums before they are officially released? Do artists agree to it? It just seems most albums these days get leaked early.

usually it's definitely not people from labels who are behind the leaks..

i think what happens is employees who work at record stores usually get their hands on albums ahead of the release date. a week before I've heard.. and That's when leaks happen..

[Edited 9/30/13 20:35pm]

TrueFunkSoldier2 said:

dancerella said:

I was just wondering how do album leaks work? Is it someone from the artists label that leaks the albums before they are officially released? Do artists agree to it? It just seems most albums these days get leaked early.

usually it's definitely not people from labels who are behind the leaks..

i think what happens is employees who work at record stores usually get their hands on albums ahead of the release date. a week before I've heard.. and That's when leaks happen..

[Edited 9/30/13 20:35pm]

Interesting....Yeah they usually seem to come out aweek before the official release date. This must really piss artists off but I guess it's so out of control now, there's nothing they can do but sometimes I wonder of the leaks help their sales too. It's kindof like try before you buy. The fans just can't wait to hear the music and then sometimes they'll still go and buy it, when iot comes out.

Its a promo technique now. The labels do it. Are we that naive? lol

Maybe in like 2003 it was some super secret agent type shit with record stores and artist friends putting out stuff early.

Alot of it nowadays is likely due to early release overseas and to promo for radio/media. Anything to make a buzz for clicks and download counts.

jeidee said:

Its a promo technique now. The labels do it. Are we that naive? lol

Maybe in like 2003 it was some super secret agent type shit with record stores and artist friends putting out stuff early.

Alot of it nowadays is likely due to early release overseas and to promo for radio/media. Anything to make a buzz for clicks and download counts.

jeidee said:

Its a promo technique now. The labels do it. Are we that naive? lol

Maybe in like 2003 it was some super secret agent type shit with record stores and artist friends putting out stuff early.

Alot of it nowadays is likely due to early release overseas and to promo for radio/media. Anything to make a buzz for clicks and download counts.

See, that's what I was wondering. I thought maybe someone fromthe label might be doing it. It just seems every single album gets leaked these days. Toomuch of a coincidence.

Also there is a difference (IMHO) between leaking something for sale and leaking something 'unreleased', unfinished, or a completely different version of released material.

Those are real leaks

The demos of Madonna's unreleased tracks like "Run" or "Set The Right" are leaks. They were likely not meant to be heard by the public.

Track 13 from Drake's new CD "leaked" a week before its released is marketing strategy.

Alot of it nowadays is likely due to early release overseas and to promo for radio/media. Anything to make a buzz for clicks and download counts.

Yes. As a reviewer for an online mag I have gotten new albums to review as much as two months before the street date. Occasionally they are watermarked so if the thing leaks online, they can tell who did it. I actually have Neil Young & Flaming Lips CDs from Warner Bros stamped with MY NAME on them! Other times I have to log in & listen to a watermarked stream.

So while I wouldn't dream of leaking something identifiable to me, some other people might not worry so much.

Plus by that time, everyone that works at the pressing plant has a copy. The publicist's office has copies, record store buyers might have gotten advance copies. And I wouldn't be surprised if some labels have deliberately leaked things to generate buzz.

As for stuff thast is not intended to be released like demos & early rough mixes, I suspect it's people who work at the studios & labels. The guy who sweeps the rooms is capable of noticing a CDR with "NEW KANYE MIXES" on it and ripping it in 2 minutes.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

jeidee said:

Its a promo technique now. The labels do it. Are we that naive? lol

Maybe in like 2003 it was some super secret agent type shit with record stores and artist friends putting out stuff early.

Alot of it nowadays is likely due to early release overseas and to promo for radio/media. Anything to make a buzz for clicks and download counts.

I totally agree with this. Labels do it and I'm quite sure the artist is in on it too.

I just laugh and roll my eyes when I hear another album has "leaked". It's all a pile of crap and is only to generate more of a buzz.

The first one that I saw that seemed deliberate was Lil Wayne's Carter III album in 2008, which turned out to be his zeitgeist album.

It showed up online with no links being taken down but it was sequenced different from what showed up the following Tuesday, so everyone bought it.

TrueFunkSoldier2 said: