Leaking Albums New Marketing Scheme?

I just read an article which deals with a new form of marketing by record labels and artists. This is almost the idea of new wave marketing in that it seems as though the music buisness is slowly dieing. Record sales continue to plummet and record labels need to think of new ways to sell albums. Now if this was 10 years ago we would all still be with walkmans and going to stores to buy cds. This was when the music industry was at a high. 50 Cent's "Get Rich Or Die Trying" sold upwards of 12 million records in 2003. In 2009 upon the release of his 4th coming album "Before I Self Destruct" there is speculation that he leaked his own album. The album leaked onto the internet 1 month before its intended release date which was November 23rd and has now been pushed up a week by Shady/Aftermath Records. This happened earlier in 2009 with Eminem's comeback album "Relapse" and Coldplay's album Viva La Vida. It is speculated this is a marketing scheme because of its effect on record sales. If an album is very good and the fans hear it on the internet many then go and buy the album in the stores. While if they didnt hear it beforehand they might speculate it being bad and not want to waste there money. It seems as though the scheme is working with Eminem's album selling 3 million copies and Coldplay's selling 2 million. Hey look could the music industry finally be coming out of its funk?