VB On The Radio: Are Leaked Albums Good for Music Fans?

For yesterday’s Soundcheck program on WNYC (rebroadcast nationwide by NPR), I squared off in a "Soundcheck Smackdown" against Ben Goldberg, owner of the independent record label Bada Bing.

Goldberg argued that the practice of leaking albums in advance of their official release dates shortchanges fans, because oftentimes the pre-release version is only a rough mix.

I took the opposite position: that music fans want to hear as much of a band’s material as we possibly can, regardless of the finality of its mix.

Listen here to Goldberg vs. Van Buskirk in this week’s Soundcheck Smackdown, hosted by Joel Meyer:

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• VB On The Radio: The Prince Album Giveaway

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• VB On The Radio: What’s Happening to Independent Record Stores?