How do albums get leaked?

Question

It makes no sense that the artist/company leaks it on purpose to get a "taste', cause not all will like it, thus not all will buy it?

Answer 1

Sometimes the artist or label will intentionally leak it, even if they deny it... but often times it's someone else who does - sometimes someone who works at the production company or someone who works at the company that presses the CDs... sometimes people hack into the computers of the company and release it. The more people that have access to it, the more likely it will be leaked.

Answer 2

They send the music to critics and the critics either leak the songs themselves or give it to people that leak the music. Also companies that actually make the CDs might have employees that steal the music. DJs might leak the music too.