Epic Records isn't shying away from a pre-release strategy for Jessica Simpson's upcoming album, A Public Affair. The album will be released August 29th, but the first single was released digitally a few weeks ago. The digital album will get an eight-week window before the CD is released. Additional promotions prior to the CD's release include ringtones, downloads for fanclub members who pre-order the album.

(Not only that, but Epic is getting even more creative with the first single, "A Public Affair." Fans can download a personalize version of the song with his/her name by choosing from a list of 500 names. Less common names will be delivered in one to three weeks.)

Good to see at least one label would rather work multiple revenue streams than worry about cannibalizing CD sales. In March of this year Jeff Leeds of the NY Times wrote an article about how some labels were holding back pre-releases in order to maximize first week album sales. Labels, as usual, were worried about single sales cannibalizing album sales.

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[music jobs] Director of Content at Dada Entertainment; New York, NY.