system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5 how music leaks ahead of its release date.

Edit: Referring mainly to entire albums, not record-label intentionally released songs.
gpt
in terms of retail leaks.  manufacturing and logistics takes time and causes large amounts of pre-release albums to pass through the hands of countless individuals and organizations..

just at the retail level CDs can arrive a week (or more) prior to the release date.  all it takes is one rogue employee to grab one from the back and make a copy.