Of course. If you create something you want it to be available to people who pay for your work. Paying customers and people who pirate leaked albums are separa

Of course. If you create something you want it to be available to people who pay for your work. Paying customers and people who pirate leaked albums are separate groups (though there is significant overlap). I should imagine to most people they'd rather that their paying customers got access first, and arranging your own surprise release enforces this, as well as creating a feel of excitement around a release.