Tyler, The Creator is sticking to his mission to combat “passive listening” with the Monday release of his ninth studio album, DON’T TAP THE GLASS.
This isn’t his first time ditching the traditional Friday drop—he did the same with CHROMAKOPIA last October, which still went on to become his third No. 1 album on the Billboard 200.
So why the switch-up? Tyler’s aiming for something deeper: by releasing music at the start of the week, he wants fans to engage more intentionally with his work, rather than just letting it blend into the usual Friday flood of new releases. It’s a deliberate move to shift the listening experience from background noise to something immersive and impactful.
Let’s break it down.
What did Tyler, The Creator say about releasing albums on Fridays?
In a 2023 sit-down with Nardwuar, Tyler made it clear he’s not a fan of the industry’s go-to release day.
“My reasoning is, I know people think because of the weekend they can listen to stuff and the streams go up,” he explained. “And the streaming people are like, ‘Oh, the streams go up on the weekend!’ But I think it’s a lot of passive listening, at parties or people get the time to go to the gym, so they’re not really listening.”
Tyler argued that releasing music earlier in the week—like on a Monday or Tuesday—gives people more room for focused, intentional listening.
“To work on an album for so long and put so much energy into it and for it to be released at midnight… just seems so disrespectful,” he added.
For Tyler, it’s not about chasing streams—it’s about making sure the music gets the attention and space it deserves.
Why Do Albums Usually Drop on Fridays?
Back in 2015, the music industry officially adopted Fridays as the global standard for new album releases. The main reason? Combating piracy. With albums previously dropping on different days in different countries, leaked versions often surfaced early, spreading across the internet before official releases.
For U.S. listeners, the shift marked a move away from the traditional Tuesday drop. But nearly a decade into this Friday-first approach, it’s become clear that the benefits haven’t been universal—and artists like Tyler, The Creator are now challenging the norm, pushing for more intentional and meaningful listening experiences.
