Thanks in part to a discussion spawned by Beyoncé's game-changing surprise album (see also: the disruptive impact of the internet on record sales), the recording industry has adopted Friday as the official global standard release date. This change is set to take effect this summer, and has been framed as a way to cut down on the global piracy that resulted from staggered international releases (traditionally albums are released in the UK and France on Monday, the US on Tuesday, and Germany on Friday).
Changed the game with that digital drop
Know where you was when that digital popped
I stopped the world
Male or female, it make no difference
I stop the world, world stop...