In response to the changing nature of music consumption, two of the big four major record labels are to update their procedure when it comes to single releases in the UK.
From February 1st, both Sony and Universal Music will adopt a new policy that will see singles released digitally the same day they are sent to radio stations for airplay, reports Music Week.
The move aims to reduce piracy that occurs while fans are waiting for the official release of a single that is already receiving airplay. According to Universal Music's UK CEO David Joseph, "For a lot of our younger fans and consumers the word 'wait' is no longer in the vocabulary. You hear something and want it and then you search it. And if you search for it then you’ve got to make sure there is a legal site for that appetite."
Meanwhile, Sony Music chairman Ged Doherty said, "We live in an age of immediacy - release windows are a thing of the past."
Taking into account the global nature of online music consumption, it's likely a similar strategy will be introduced here in Ireland.
