These days, most of us share a “gotta-have-it-now” philosophy.
Looking forward to the next single from your favorite artist? Chances are it’s already out there on the Web. Can’t wait for that anticipated new album to come out? Google it. More often than not, it has already debuted on the Internet and made its way onto iPods worldwide.
Although illegally downloading music is, well illegal, a phenomenon of leaked music is all too common in the industry, especially in the hip-hop community.
One album, “Watch the Throne,” is crowned with being an exception to the norm. Avoiding leakage seemed to be an impossible feat, but artists Jay-Z and Kanye West triumphed in three ways, helping it go platinum: by recording the album together at the same place and time, attending every listening event themselves and steering clear of mom-and-pop stores by turning to iTunes and Best Buy as the primary places for its debut.
Many thought this would mark a great change in the music industry, where people would actually be excited to go out and purchase an album rather than sitting behind a computer screen, simply clicking for a free download.
This, however, was not the case.
Several weekends ago, Twitter went up in flames rumoring somehow, someway Drake’s album “Take Care” leaked that evening, more than a week before its debut on Tuesday.
“I am not sure if the album leaked,” the Canadian actor-turned-rapper tweeted. “But if it did, thank God it doesn’t happen a month early.”
As links for his album were continuously re-tweeted, the gossip was then confirmed, and Drake encouraged the world to listen to it.
“… Buy it if you like it ... and take care until next time,” he tweeted.
Elementary education junior Mark Boyd is one of the listeners who plans to do just that.
“If I download a leaked album and I like it, I will buy it,” he said.
Boyd believes album leaks won’t affect sales because usually there’s bonus material or extra, unreleased tracks.
Back in October, Drake told Billboard that leaks aren’t so bad.
“I think that giving people the opportunity to judge before they go and buy, I think that can only help,” he said. “I look forward to leaks — knock on wood.” Too bad he wasn’t more careful about what he wished for.
How the album leaked, though, is still up for debate.
In most instances, it is hard to pin the origin of a record’s pre-release, but there are several speculated answers. The Houston Press suggests that insiders of studios, label companies, the press, CD manufacturers, warehouses and retail stores are all probable culprits.
From the perspective of Boyd and Drake, and others like them, listening to leaked music has the ability to encourage people to go out and actually purchase an album. If it is that impressive, it can only strengthen and support the music industry as a whole.
Reach the columnist at alhaines@asu.edu Click here to subscribe to the daily State Press newsletter.
