N.Y. Times: Adele's '25' Won't Be On Streaming Services

Adele: The Blitz Is On

With predictions that ADELE's "25," which comes out tomorrow on XL/COLUMBIA, could top 2.5 million in first-week sales, which would best NSYNC's 2.415 million for "No Strings Attached" 15 years ago, the N.Y. TIMES reports the album will not be available on the major streaming services.

Various reports have pegged shipments at 3.5 million for the eagerly anticipated album, her first since "21," almost five years ago.  Like TAYLOR SWIFT, ADELE was said to be personally involved in the decision to withhold the release from SPOTIFY, APPLE MUSIC and the rest.

"Hello," the first single, sold more than 1.1 million copies in its first week, the largest ever for a download, according to NIELSEN.  The video has been viewed more than 400 million times.

This past TUESDAY, ADELE performed at RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL for a special, "ADELE Live In NEW YORK CITY, which will air on NBC DECEMBER 14th.  She'll also be the musical guest on several other NBC shows, including this weekend's SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, "The Tonight Show with JIMMY FALLON," MONDAY night (NOVEMBER 23rd), and 'The Today Show," WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 25th).  

TARGET, which has an exclusive on seven music videos from the album, began broadcasting a national TV commercial for the album yesterday.

SPOTIFY issued the following statement to ALL ACCESS: "We love and respect ADELE, as do her 24 million fans on SPOTIFY. We hope that she will give those fans the opportunity to enjoy '25' on SPOTIFY alongside '19' and '21' very soon."

Industry pundit BOB LEFSETZ, an outspoken advocate of streaming, blasted the decision in his typical blowhard manner: "Your album comes out tomorrow. You waited to this late date to reveal this info? Why? You knew forever. But you employ duplicity, smoke and mirrors, manipulation as opposed to forthright honesty. How can we believe in your music if we don't believe in you?"

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