In 1958, Billboard shifted the release date of their Music Popularity chart from Saturday to Monday, and record labels quickly caught on. Releasing albums on Tuesdays allowed labels to get their music into stores, and onto the radio, in advance of the weekly update to Billboard's charts.
This gave artists and record companies more time to promote and sell their new releases before they were ranked on Billboard's charts, increasing the likelihood of higher chart positions and greater exposure.
While the music industry has since undergone significant changes, including the rise of streaming services and a move towards a release day of Friday in many markets outside the United States, some labels and artists still choose to release albums on Tuesdays in order to potentially maximize chart success and exposure in traditional markets.