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A music leak is an unauthorized release of music over the internet. Songs or albums may leak days or months before their scheduled release date. In other cases, the leaked material may be demos or scrapped work never intended for public release. Leaks often originate from hackers who gain unauthorized access to the online storage of an artist, label, producer, or journalist.

Sources

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Unreleased music is often acquired by hackers who gain unauthorized access to the e-mail or cloud storage accounts of artists, producers or record labels.[1] Some leaks originate from advance copies sent to journalists, and are leaked by the journalists or by individuals with unauthorized access. For example, the 2006 Joanna Newsom album Ys was leaked when a hacker gained access to an FTP server maintained by the music publication Pitchfork.[2] In 2015, a server controlled by the music website Spin was hacked, resulting in the leaking of albums by Beach House, Mac DeMarco, and Destroyer.[1] It has been alleged that some record labels intentionally stage leaks to create publicity.[3]

Distribution

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During the 1990s, leaked music was occasionally shared on the internet, despite relatively slow transmission speeds and music codecs being in their infancy. One of the first albums to leak on the internet was Depeche Mode's 1993 album Songs of Faith and Devotion, which was shared by fans in chat rooms.[2]

In the early 2000s, peer-to-peer file sharing sites such as Napster were widely used not only for musical piracy, but also for the distribution of leaked music. The landmark copyright lawsuit Metallica v. Napster, Inc. centered on the leak of a demo recording of the Metallica song "I Disappear", which was planned to be released as part of the soundtrack to Mission: Impossible II. The leaked demo, which made its way onto radio airplay, was traced to Napster.[2]

As peer-to-peer file sharing services declined in popularity, other channels have been used for the distribution of leaked music, such as BitTorrent and "File hosting" services such as MediaFire.[2]

Reactions

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When a song or album leaks ahead of its scheduled release date, record labels often react by moving the release earlier, a process which became simpler as music has shifted from physical to mostly digital distribution.[4] An early example of this was Eminem's 2002 album The Eminem Show. Originally scheduled for June, its release date was moved to May 28 after the album leaked that month.[2]

The effect of leaks on sales or popularity is unclear.[3] In 2000, the album Kid A, by the English rock band Radiohead, was leaked online and shared on the peer-to-peer service Napster. Asked whether he believed Napster had damaged sales, the Capitol president Ray Lott likened the situation to unfounded concern about home taping in the 1980s.[5] In some cases, a leak may precipitate an official release for materials not planned for release. For example, in 2019, Radiohead released MiniDiscs [Hacked], an archive of recordings made around the recording of their 1997 album OK Computer, after a hacker leaked them online.[6]

Labels may attempt to stop or slow the spread of leaked files by issuing DMCA takedown notices to websites hosting leaked material, or search engines which index these sites.[3]

Prevalence

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Album leaks have become increasingly common, with some record executives stating that, beginning in the late 2000s, most albums leak "as a matter of course", though many of these leaks occur shortly before the album's scheduled release and therefore have relatively little effect.[3] When Watch the Throne, a 2011 collaboration between rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West, was released without being preceded by any leaks, this was noted as an unusual circumstance for a highly anticipated album in the Internet age.[7][8]

Prevention

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Copy Control logo, used on some CDs from 2001 to 2006

Digital software

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Copy protection software has been used on CD releases to prevent the unauthorised distribution of music onto online sites. A notable example of this was the Copy Control system, a digital rights management software system used on around 22 million CDs from 2001 to 2006, which was discontinued in the wake of its supposed use as a rootkit in the Sony BMG copy protection rootkit scandal.[9][10][11]

Digital watermarks, typically used on CD advance copies have allowed leaks to be traced to their original source, are used to deter would-be leakers as it allows them to face legal action.[3][12] While the source of a leak is not usually announced, it has been in the past; an example of this was with the 2009 Converge album Axe to Fall, where the band publicly named and shamed Shaun Hand at MetalSucks.net, whom the album leak had been traced back to using a digital watermark on a CD advance copy. This can be used to create viral negative publicity.[13][14][15]

Fake album releases

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Prior to the release of her 2003 album American Life, Madonna planted files on file sharing websites purporting to be leaked tracks from the album; in fact, the audio files consisted of Madonna saying: "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"[16] Progressive metal band Tool also announced a fake album called "Systema Encéphale" with a fake tracklist to deter and detract from leaks of their 2001 album Lateralus.[17][18]

Surprise or early releases

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The rise in leaks during the 2000s led to some popular recording artists surprise-releasing their albums.[19] Some artists have released their albums early to deter leaking, for example Greg Puciato's 2020 solo album Child Soldier: Creator of God, which was released three weeks earlier than its planned release date in response to a leak.[20][21]

Notable leaks

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Album Artist Release date Details
Untouchables Korn June 11, 2002 Leaked in a slightly unfinished format four months before the album's planned release. The band said the leak originated from a hacker stealing files from James Shaffer's laptop,[22] though it has also been suggested the band's vocalist Johnathan Davis intentionally leaked the album due to a spat between the band and their record label, Epic Records.[23] The album's release date was moved forward a month.[24]
Hail to the Thief Radiohead June 9, 2003 An unfinished version of Hail to the Thief, comprising rough edits and unmixed songs, leaked online ten weeks before release.[25] The guitarist Jonny Greenwood wrote that Radiohead were "pissed off", not with downloaders but because of the "sloppy" release of unfinished work.[26][27]
Dangerously in Love Beyoncé June 24, 2003 Multiple songs from Beyoncé's debut solo album leaked online, leading to the sale of physical bootleg CDs. The album's release date was moved forward two weeks as a result.[28]
X&Y Coldplay June 6, 2005 Leaked a week before its official release, with an early recording of Talk leaked in early 2005.[29]
Guapa La Oreja de Van Gogh April 25, 2006 Two days before its official premiere, the telephone company Movistar offered a Sony Ericson phone with the 13 tracks from the album and the video of the first single preloaded in the phone, causing the album to already be pirated before its official release.
Axe to Fall Converge October 20, 2009 Leaked from an CD advance copy from MetalSucks.net staff member Shaun Hand. The band traced the leak to him, and publicly named and shamed him on Twitter, prompting an apology from MetalSucks.[13][14][15]
4 Beyoncé June 28, 2011 4 was originally scheduled to be in the United States on June 28, 2011, however, the album was leaked in full on the internet on June 7.[30] The album would be released on schedule anyway. In August 2013, NME reported that Sony Music were suing a 47-year-old man from Gothenburg for US$233,000 concerning the leak of 4.[31]
Rebel Heart Madonna March 6, 2015 Rebel Heart was originally planned for an early 2015 release, with the lead single, "Living for Love", to be released on Valentine's Day. Two tracks from the album leaked on the internet on November 28, 2014,[32] with an additional thirteen leaking on December 17.[33] In response to the leaks, Madonna made the album available to pre-order on the iTunes Store on December 20 and gave those who pre-ordered early access to six tracks from the album. The lead single "Living for Love" was rush-released on the same date, far ahead of its planned release date.[34] On January 21, 2015, an Israeli man believed to have originally acquired the leaked tracks via hacking was arrested. He was ultimately sentenced to fourteen months in a Tel Aviv prison.[35] In social media postings at the time, Madonna described the leaks as "artistic rape" and a form of terrorism.[36]
Yandhi Kanye West Unreleased The album was originally teased in September 2018, with a release on the 29th of that month. West went on SNL to promote the album, but it didn't release on that date. Yandhi was reannounced as Jesus Is King in August 2019; it was released on October 25, 2019. The album's tracks would go on to leak, and one track "Hurricane" made it to 2021's Donda.[37]
XCX World Charli XCX Unreleased The original third studio album by Charli XCX, unofficially referred to as XCX World by fans, would have been preceded by the singles, "After the Afterparty" and "Boys". The album's official release was cancelled after it leaked on August 20, 2017. Charli released a different album, Charli, in 2019.[38]
MiniDiscs [Hacked] Radiohead June 11, 2019 More than 16 hours of demos, rehearsals, live performances and other material recorded while Radiohead were working on their 1997 album OK Computer leaked in June 2019.[39] According to some reports, a bootleg collector demanded a ransom from Radiohead, but he denied this and it was not corroborated by fans who negotiated with him.[6] After the recordings leaked, Radiohead released them through the music sharing site Bandcamp.[40]
Future Nostalgia Dua Lipa March 27, 2020 The album leaked in full over the weekend of March 21–22. Lipa subsequently announced over Instagram live that it would be released a week ahead of its originally scheduled April release.[41]
Harry's House Harry Styles May 20, 2022 Reportedly leaked in its entirety on April 20, 2022, a month before its release. Sony Music, who owns Columbia Records, advised against listening to the leaks on Twitter,[42] and provoked a strong reaction from a portion of Styles' fanbase, who pleaded for people to not to listen to the leaks.[43] Regardless, the album was released on its originally scheduled release date of May 20.[44][45]
Renaissance Beyoncé July 29, 2022 Two days before the scheduled release, on July 27, the album arrived in retailers in France and eventually leaked online.[46] Beyoncé would post an open letter onto her website the following day concerning the leaks.
A Great Chaos Ken Carson October 13, 2023 Leaked in full after several songs were shared on a Discord server on October 9, 2023, four days before the album's official release date. Carson never commented on the leaks, though stated earlier that year on Twitter that "leaking songs can get you gone".[47]
The Tortured Poets Department Taylor Swift April 19, 2024 Leaked in full on April 16, 2024, three days before the album's official release date. Fans on Twitter (or X) had mixed reactions, ranging from shock to rage. Swift never commented on the leaks.
Clancy Twenty One Pilots May 24, 2024 Leaked in full on May 17, 2024, which was the album's originally planned release date before being delayed by a week due to the band finishing the album's music videos. Many stores mistakenly sold CD and vinyl copies of the album on the original release date, leading to it leaking online the same day. Tyler Joseph later joked about the leak on a live stream in which he and bandmate Josh Dun premiered the album's music videos.[48]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Horner, Al (June 17, 2019). "Not OK, computer: how it feels to have your music leaked". The Guardian.
  2. ^ a b c d e Harvey, Eric (January 28, 2015). "A History of Digital Album Leaks, 1993–2015". Pitchfork.
  3. ^ a b c d e Lea, Tom (January 29, 2015). "Inside album leaks: how do they happen, how do we stop them, and do they even matter?". Fact magazine.
  4. ^ Moraski, Lauren (August 22, 2013). "What's the story behind song leaks?". CBS News.
  5. ^ Farley, Christopher John (October 23, 2000). "Radioactive". Time Europe. Vol. 156, no. 17. Archived from the original on March 11, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  6. ^ a b Hogan, Mark (June 12, 2019). "Radiohead fans vs. black-market sellers: the battle to leak the OK Computer tapes". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 12, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  7. ^ Gissen, Jesse (August 8, 2011). "Jay-Z & Kanye West Miraculously Manage to Keep Watch the Throne Leak-Free". XXL. Harris Publications. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  8. ^ Perpetua, Matthew (August 8, 2011). "Jay-Z and Kanye West Avoid 'Watch the Throne' Leak". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  9. ^ "Inside the Spyware Scandal". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  10. ^ Brown, Bob (October 28, 2015). "Sony BMG Rootkit Scandal: 10 Years Later". CSO Online. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  11. ^ "Sony BMG Litigation Info". Electronic Frontier Foundation. July 1, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  12. ^ "Yup, Leaking Albums Can Still Get You Arrested". www.vice.com. November 22, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "REGARDING THE LEAK OF CONVERGE'S AXE TO FALL". MetalSucks. October 6, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Converge on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Converge Call Out Metal Site On Leaking "Axe To Fall" To The Internet". Theprp.com. October 6, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  16. ^ "When Madonna leaked a fake version of her album to thwart pirates". The Industry Observer. July 16, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  17. ^ "The Tool Page: News". April 7, 2013. Archived from the original on April 7, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  18. ^ "Interview with Maynard James Keenan of A Perfect Circle (NY Rock)". October 13, 2012. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  19. ^ Finn, Rachel (March 25, 2019). "Out Of The Blue: A Brief History Of The Surprise Album". DIY. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  20. ^ DiVita, Joe (October 2, 2020). "Greg Puciato Album Out Three Weeks Early: 'F—k That Dude Who Leaked My Record'". Loudwire. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  21. ^ "A "Dipshit 'Reviewer'" Leaked Greg Puciato's New Solo Album | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  22. ^ "5 Things You Didn't Know About Korn's 'Untouchables'". Revolver. June 11, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  23. ^ rockdirt (November 30, 2001). "KoRn 'Untouchables' Leak Reportedly No Accident | rockdirt.com". rockdirt.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  24. ^ Blabbermouth (March 17, 2002). "KORN "Untouchables" Release Date Pushed Up, Internet Leak To Blame". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  25. ^ "Radiohead tracks appear on web". BBC. April 2, 2003. Archived from the original on February 13, 2006. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  26. ^ Andy Frankowski (April 3, 2003). "Hail to the Thief: Leaked tracks are stolen early recordings". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  27. ^ "It's all fucked". Q: 20–21. June 2003.
  28. ^ Moss, Corey (June 2, 2003). "Beyonce Pushes Up Release Date Of Solo Debut". MTV News. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  29. ^ "Coldplay album leaks". NME. May 31, 2005. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  30. ^ "Beyoncé's '4' leaks online, three weeks before release". Los Angeles Times. June 7, 2011. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  31. ^ "Sony suing Swedish music fan for $233,000". NME. March 5, 2013. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  32. ^ Caulfield, Keith (November 29, 2014). "Two New Madonna Songs Have Leaked". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 1, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  33. ^ Lynch, Joe (December 17, 2014). "Madonna Dismisses New Album Leak As 'Unfinished Demos Stolen Long Ago'". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  34. ^ "Madonna Responds to 'Rebel Heart' Leak by Releasing Six Songs". Rolling Stone. December 20, 2014. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  35. ^ Hampp, Andrew (July 9, 2015). "Madonna's 'Rebel Heart' Hacker Sentenced to 14 Months In Prison". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  36. ^ "Madonna new music leak is 'form of terrorism' says singer". The Guardian. December 18, 2014. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  37. ^ Jones, Jiggy (October 29, 2021). "The Source |Behind The Boards of Kanye West's 'Hurricane'". The Source. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  38. ^ "Charli XCX's Delayed Album: Who Is Really to Blame?". Highsnobiety. July 6, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  39. ^ Larson, Jeremy D; Greene, Jayson (June 12, 2019). "The best, weirdest, and most revealing moments on Radiohead's OK Computer sessions leak". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 11, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  40. ^ Larson, Jeremy D; Greene, Jayson (June 12, 2019). "The best, weirdest, and most revealing moments on Radiohead's OK Computer sessions leak". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 11, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  41. ^ Savage, Mark (March 23, 2020). "Dua Lipa moves album release forward after it leaks online". BBC News. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  42. ^ "Sony on Twitter: "PSA: friends don't let friends listen to Harry's House before May 20"". April 20, 2022. Archived from the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  43. ^ "Harry Styles' new album leaked – and fans are begging people not to listen". indy100. April 20, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  44. ^ Cavender, Elena (May 19, 2022). "'Harry's House' album leaks are a lesson in fandom politics". Mashable. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  45. ^ ""Harry's House" leaks online with other songs, angering Harry Styles fans". Newsweek. April 20, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  46. ^ Aswad, Jem (July 27, 2022). "Beyonce's "Renaissance" Album Leaks Two Days Early". Variety. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  47. ^ Zamora, José (October 9, 2023). "Opium's Ken Carson Has New Album Leaked Online". Raptology. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  48. ^ https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/music/news-why-did-hear-leak-trending-twitter-twenty-one-pilots-livestream-wins-hearts-amid-clancy-album-release [bare URL]
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