How Album Leaking is the New Marketing Technique

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, the innovation that is occurring in music marketing is occurring in hip hop. Proving this point, Allhiphop.com is reporting on how The Game has recently intentionally leaked the clean version of his forthcoming album. Further, this is really noting new in this so artistic industry for a minute now album leaking has been used to increase hype, and anticipation for a release. As of recently Jay-Z’s BP3 which was scheduled for a Sept. 11, 2010 release, but due to the album leaking which I believe was intentional in turn upped the release date to Sept. 8, 2009 (yesterday. Many labels frown on this method currently with the decline in album sales, but true artists with a real honest strong fan base will continue to sell albums no matter the economic situation. Share your views and comments with me on this marketing strategy.  

With me being an independnet musician having my album leaked I feel will hurt me financially but promote me fan base wise.My album “Well Respected” was promoted through online avenues and street promotions and fared out pretty well. It could have done better made if I had leaked it out early or let a few tracks float around the net. The drawback is the financial burden it can cause an independent artist. As for the case with an artist on a major label they can schedule an early leak to all the torrent sites get up publicity out of it then say its going to be released to retailers early to courttail the bootlegging and downloading.

Album leaking in some cases sabotages the music industry even more before the digital age all consumers anticipated record release tuesdays. To get the newest rock, jazz, rap, r&b album, this is not so much the case now with downloading sites, members of the group leaking songs and albums (Lil Wayne Carter III). This simply kills the integrity of the game.

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