Billboard is reporting that the recording industry has now chosen Fridays as the worldwide release date-of-week for all new albums. The change is expected to take hold in the summer.

A statement by the Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the Switzerland based not-for-profit organization which is the global umbrella under which the RIAA falls, states the borderless digital music world as the reason behind the change, commenting "An aligned global release day puts an end to the frustration of not being able to access releases in their country when the music is available in another country." They also cite piracy concerns and the notion of providing artists with a single release day to celebrate. You can find the full statement at IFPI.org.

Opinions for and against the street date change can be found at Billboard.