Diditleak: Album Leaks Updated on Twitter in Real Time

The day an album gets leaked to the Internet is an important milestone in the album release process. Some bands do nothing, while others decide to immediately release the music for free on their official websites. Either way, word on the Internet gets around quickly, and boosts the hype surrounding an album a few notches.

One source is Diditleak.co.uk, which provides updated information on album leaks since 2007, and started a Twitter account last year. The list isn’t all inclusive, and focuses mostly on the major pre-released music. However, the site crowd-sources its information; anyone can send a submit information to @diditleak on Twitter. Check out the past week’s entries:

• Rx Bandits – Mandala leaked, due out July 28th. Jun 26
• Ace Hood – Ruthless leaked, due out June 30th. Jun 26
• Big D And The Kids Table – Fluent In Stroll leaked, due out July 7th. Jun 26
• Aimee Allen – A Little Happiness leaked, due out July 21st. 8:03 PM Jun 25th
• La Roux – La Roux leaked, due out June 29th. 6:33 AM Jun 25th
• Maxwell – BLACKsummers’ night already leaked, due out July 7th. 7:02 PM Jun 24th
• Portugal. The Man – The Satanic Satanist leaked due out July 21st. 7:02 PM Jun 24th
• Poison The Well – The Tropic Rot leaked, due out July 7th. 11:32 PM Jun 23rd
• Job For a Cowboy – Ruination leaked, due out July 7th. 4:34 AM Jun 23rd

Diditleak is another example of Twitter’s ability to gather data from users – in this case, two dates – and present it in a simplified way that may be used and shared publicly. At the same time, Twitter can be used to share information which may affect labels and artists.

Wilco released (the Album) for free stream on their website after it was leaked May 12. If bands are able to compete effectively with file sharing networks, does it make sense to change release plans when an album is leaked? In some cases, Diditleak reports music that has been leaked months in advance, and the dilemma becomes whether musicians will choose to allow fans to listen to lower quality versions through illicit means, or provide a proper recording to be heard through their own choice of distribution.

Can the situation be avoided? How should bands react to album leaks?