Won't hurt sales. Can't see why a leak would change anything. Either they want to buy it or they don't. I doubt someone thinks "Oh, it's leaked? Great I can save 15$" when all they'd have to is wait till the day of release to download free anyway...

A strong, massive, young fanbase that is constantly active on twitter and instagram. A young fanbase that loves a young artist whose had major hit songs in the past 6 years. 

For all you Radiohead fans out there, do you remember when Kid A leaked onto Napster? I've heard some say that it was Napster that helped propel that album to #1 in the U.S. After all, Kid A was promoted in a low key but mysterious way, and was composed of abstract electronic pieces, so it wouldn't have much commercial appeal. So it's possible that its leak helped it gain media attention, and allow an unconventional album gain commercial success! Maybe Noel will benefit from this leak in a similar way, since CY is by no means anything like he's ever released. Except Teotihuacan (which without a doubt wins a prize for the most ballsy release by Noel ever!)

If anything I think Spotify will affect sales.``

I would wager a huge amount of money that the only people who know (read: care) about this leak is this forum. Seriously, who the hell follows Noel Gallagher closely enough other than the Oasis fan base?

Pretty much everything leaks nowadays. Don't see any reason why it should affect Noel more than anyone else that is out there. He may even be cushioned a bit more than the average fan because I think his fanbase may not be massive...but it is fairly passionate. I do believe that the Madonna album out the week after his has leaked already a while back for instance? According to a couple gay men on my facebook feed at least. Don't quote me on that. lol

Illegal downloading is the major issue. But those that are going to do that will do it regardless of when the product become available to download, leak or official release

I remember Noel saying back in 2008 (I think) that he noticed that the music landscape was changing a lot but that Oasis were fortunate in that they were self contained and their albums would sell what they did. They weren't as much at the whims of the market. I think to a certain extent Noel has a bit of that going for him. And good sized passionate fanbase. Obviously not to the same extent. But he could drop his sales by half and still be selling enough albums to be worth touring and releasing another record. He would be in a bit of a danger zone at that point in case in turned out to be a downward trend for the next album.

I'm literally the only one of my friends who even knows its leaked. Most of them are just casual fans and they've got it pre-ordered on iTunes ready to mouth off about it when it comes out saying that they are such great fans, though its not as good as Wonderwall.

This album will be out in 2 weeks. WHY THE FUCK DON'T THEY PROMOTE IT?!

They might stream it. They did with the last album even though it didn't leak.

There is no way to counteract a leak though. It is what it is...and it happens to vitually every artist nowadays.

The best thing they can do is just ignore the leak and usually the press will do the same, for the most part. Noel has nothing to gain by speaking about the leak until the album drops. A large number of people will probably not even know it has leaked unless they are on forums or maybe if they are on twitter and following other Oasis fanbase. They will if Noel talks about the leak in an interview though. And maybe go looking.

Last time around he split every day between interviews in the morning and rehearsal in the afternoon. All the daily/weekly print magazines/papers would hold their interviews until the week before or the week of the album. There have been a good number of features in the monthly publications though, all the usual suspects. Maybe it seems like less because he seems to be trotting out a lot of he same stories/been asked the same questions so they all blur together. And you have a point that radio interviews are usually only announced a week to few days in advance. Besides doing too much promo when the album isn't even available to buy is a bit useless.

I don't preorder most albums. If I were to hear an artist on a show and like a tune I'd try to find the album then. If it wasn't out...I may or may not remember to check again down the road. It could take a while before I think of it again. Or if I never heard the tune again I could totally forget.

People seem to be expecting him to be everywhere. And he was a bit more front and center the last time around. But that was Noel Gallagher's first post Oasis everything, a much bigger deal...despite this being a great album. Besides I seem the remember only 1 acoustic performance and a mimed French TV show before the album dropped. First UK TV show wasn't until the Jonathan Ross Show at the very end of the week the album dropped. Now he is on Graham Norton the week before the album drops. Already had a interview on Jonathan Ross to drum up presales. He'll probably do Chatty Man at some point and musical guest on Ross at some point this year.

Going to tv shows, perform there, going to radio show, perform there, do interviews, appear in the front of magazines etc. There's nothing more you can do, i think

And yes, for Noel would be great a BRIT's performance, a NME awards performance, everything. But it doesn't look like he will do something of that :\ But he's famous enough to have his album at #1 anyway. But you know, selling 40k copies and get a #1 album and selling 120k copies and get a #1 album is way different. I hope they know what they're doing

Maybe when he'll get his own nomination as  "Best male solo artist" we'll see him playing at the BRIT's...... one year later

Last time it was different because it was like a new start, even if he wasn't a newbie. Basically he went everywhere even before the release. Anyway it usually starts 1/2 weeks before the release date of the album

Damon Albarn got a nomination... and Everyday Robots sold like 50k copies, Noel will beat that in 4 days