S. Samuel
Grammy-winning singer Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is making history with the unexpected release of her new self-titled album and now weekend reports claim the project has already pushed out nearly 500,000 copies.
According to reports, Queen Bey’s album sold 430,000 in just the first 24 hours of its release.
Beyonce’s self-titled surprise release, which hit iTunes exclusively on Thursday evening (9 p.m. PT), has now sold over 430,000 units in just over one day, guaranteeing it the top slot on the Billboard 200 once that chart’s top 10 is revealed mid-week. As reported yesterday, “Beyonce” shifted slightly over 80,000 in the three hours from 9 p.m. PT to midnight on Thursday evening, putting her Friday sales at roughly 350,000, according to industry sources. With two more days left in the sales tracking week, the title could sell over 600,000 before the buzzer sounds. (Billboard)
Despite the LP dropping on Friday (December 13), music experts expect the iTunes-exclusive to crush its competition.
KILLER BEY: It remains to be seen whether Beyoncé has just “changed the game,” as some are asserting (see below), but she’s definitely changed the look of next week’s sales chart. At this point, we’re projecting 200k+ for the album’s first three days of availability, enough to push Garth Brooks to #2. Can she hit 300k? (HITS Daily Double)
Bey’s new self-titled release features nearly 15 records including a guest spot from daughter Blue Ivy Carter.
Christmas comes early for Beyoncé fans. In an unprecedented move, the pop superstar quietly released her fifth studio album to iTunes on Friday. “Surprise!” tweeted Bey moments after the midnight launch. The visual album, simply titled BEYONCÉ, features 14 songs and 17 videos, with contributions from Jay Z, Blue Ivy, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell, Drake, The-Dream, Sia, Ryan Tedder, Miguel, Frank Ocean, Hit-Boy, Ammo, Boots, and Detail. “I see music,” said Beyoncé about her decision to create a visual album. “It’s more than just what I hear. When I’m connected to something, I immediately see a visual or a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies. And they’re all connected to the music.” (Rap-Up)
Bey also explained why she went with an unexpected album release.
The videos were shot throughout the world in New York, Paris, Sydney, and Rio de Janeiro during her worldwide “Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.” “I didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it,” explained Bey. “I am bored with that. I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There’s so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.” The surprise release was a strategic move done to prevent leaks. Manufacturing of physical copies begins today and the double disc CD/DVD will be available in stores in time for the holidays. (Rap-Up)
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