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Fancy hearing albums two weeks early? Spotify’s new ‘Windowing’ system has landed

A year after Universal Music announced a new deal with Spotify to ‘Window’ music from major artists, it appears that system has finally arrived.

‘Windowing’ is essentially the process of releasing albums from major label artists two weeks prior to their general release date – available only to premium subscribers for that period.

Exclusive content is coming for Premium Spotify Subscribers with the announcement of new ‘Windowing’ system.

Starting today, Universal artists can choose to release new albums on premium only for two weeks, offering subscribers an earlier chance to explore the complete creative work, while the singles are available across Spotify for all our listeners to enjoy,” said Daniel Ek in a press release from 2017.

Following this announcement, similar deals were struck with Sony, Warner, and Merlin. In return for this service, Spotify are to receive a reduced rate in revenue they’re required to pay artists.

In late 2015, Coldplay’s Head Full Of Dreams was windowed for premium subscribers, though earlier this year, the band’s manager Dave Holmes told Music Business Worldwide:

At this point we wouldn’t do any windowing or holding back. We did over the years because streaming was still in its infancy. We’ve moved with the times as streaming has grown with the times,” suggesting that windowing is not as popular a concept now as it was a few years ago.

Nevertheless, Spotify are marching forward with this new scheme… so keep an eye out, premium subscribers, exclusive content may be coming your way soon.

Via Music Business Worldwide.