what usually causes an album to leak?

[CJ Mastering]

Originally Posted by imnewhere

and how are people so careless about it?

It could be hundreds of things, but in my opinion, if there's a leak, its done on purpose to produce a buzz in some cases. In other cases, its done by one of the band members or "so called" friends of the band members.

CJ

[longbongsilver]

Poking it with a stick is not recommended...

But seriously, it's simple: too many people with access to the files. Somebody gets a hold of them who doesn't care about the release date. There's articles talking about how tightly held some recordings have been to make sure they don't get leaked.

Thing these days though is sometimes people will leak a song on purpose. When the artist is putting out their own track ahead of schedule, is it even a leak anymore?

[Jack P]

when it's sent to journalists, pressing plants etc...

[drethe5th]

A few tracks is usualy a good thing. Whole albums hurt though.

Tons of music is pirated, but if it happens wide scale before a release, you loose any sales you may have gotten without a leak.

Keep your files locked away, use trustworthy studios and when possible use your hard drive as primary, trying to leave minimal work on others computer.

Posted via mobile device.

[PettyCash]

Nowadays, it can be a big part of marketing strategy. The people you'll actually make money off of will still purchase the finish product when it's officially released. If the song or songs that get leaked are actually good, it will build more hype and increase awareness for the impending album.

[bigyo]

Nowadays A lot of Artist leak their own albums.. Show money is better than label money right now..

[cal1]

as an artist or producer i wouldnt leak any album more than 2-3 days before release. Never Ever.

[David Ray]

Some interesting thoughts by Mike Dean on Pensados Place...

Apparently on WTT they took some pretty interesting precautions...

[mrwonderful]

Originally Posted by bigyo

Nowadays A lot of Artist leak their own albums.. Show money is better than label money right now..

True. I don't know why half of artists aren't solo. I guess they don't really got the money to hit the studio themselves, gfx design, and promotion... baffles me.

[PettyCash]

Originally Posted by cal1

as an artist or producer i wouldnt leak any album more than 2-3 days before release. Never Ever.

1-2 weeks before release is usually the most effective way to go about doing it. Enough time for people to listen to the tracks and get excited, but not long enough for the hype to die down before it comes out.

[LeoLeoLeo]

Some guys from Germany are pretty damn good hackers & want rap music. It's been a minute since they tried me, until one a few days ago. I usually hit em up and say nice try... I came up with a fool proof way not to get sent songs leaked.

[VastArray]

Wait... a team of talented German hackers are hell-bent on getting your unreleased rap tracks? That's hardcore man. Glad you got that locked down though. They're probably pulling their hair out right now trying to plan a jewel-heist style last-ditch-effort to get your tunes. I hope you don't have a skylight... That's how they get you.

[uijui]

a german major label just put out stuff i was involved with on youtube weeks before the official release date, their excuse was 'oh, we didn't know'...

[LeoLeoLeo]

It's sounds crazy, but true.

One time a few years ago the intern was giving me a ride to store and said "just downloaded this! You do it?" listened, it was what I was about to mix that day... But 1 verse & hook only. Tripped me out.

[njfour]

In my experience it is almost always advance press copies or, even more often, from the CD-pressing plant. I've worked on multiple albums with hired Data Security to avoid leaks, and they still leak right at the end from the plant (with the Data Security the press copies are watermarked, so they'd know who was responsible if press leaked it).

[arrowood101]

Piracy now a days is big business for slimy people across the world. It's not simply kids sharing tracks. People will try to hack emails pretty much anything to get their hands on releases. Why because it's big money, i.e. advertising. People need to wake up and realize this.

It use to be that if something got leaked a lot of times it was the label "testing" a track. This happens less these days. I see emails being hacked etc more these days.

Piracy is not a "marketing" method. Plenty of more legit places to get your music heard pre release.