UPDATE (12.15.13, 10:30 p.m. ET): Through Saturday night, Beyoncé's album had sold 550,000 copies in its first two days, not counting Sunday sales. This gives the singer her best debut and best sales week ever (although it's hardly even a full week), breaking her previous record of 541,000 copies of B'Day. Of course, the final numbers will be much higher, as Sunday's (Dec. 15) sales will still need to be added. The album is expected to exceed the 600,000 mark by the close of the tracking week on Sunday evening.
UPDATE (12.14.13, 8:35 p.m. ET): According to Billboard, the set has passed 430,000 copies sold as of early Saturday, with just over one day's sales in. The end of the tracking week is Sunday night, and Beyoncé's album could hit 600,000 by that time, guaranteeing its debut at No. 1. Regardless of the finishing tally, Beyoncé is already the highest debut for a female artist this year, passing Katy Perry's PRISM with 286,000.
A debut of 600,000 would give Beyoncé her highest debut and biggest sales week ever, surpassing 2006's B’Day, which opened at 541,000 in September 2006.
UPDATE (12.13.13): Industry sources reported early Friday morning that Beyoncé's new album sold 80,000 copies in its first three hours available. Garth Brooks' Blame It All On My Roots was previously projected to lead the Billboard 200 for a second week with 150,000-plus copies, but Bey's new set will surely pass that tally by Sunday night (the end of the tracking week).
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With zero notice and absolutely no promo, Beyoncé flipped the music standard upside down on Thursday night and released a new, self-titled visual album, completely out of nowhere.
While we had been tracking her to release music of some kind this month, an entire album was surely not on anyone's radar, as she hadn't even released a single.
The new record, available now exclusively on iTunes, includes videos for each of the 14 tracks, in addition to bonus visuals for which there is no audio version.
“I see music,” Beyoncé said of deciding 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.”
Of her choice to release the record with no notice, she said: “I didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it. I am bored with that ... I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.”
Among the album's collaborators are JAY Z, Drake, Frank Ocean, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland, Justin Timberlake, and Blue Ivy.
Until Dec. 20, when individual tracks will go on sale, only the full album can be purchased.
See the tracklist below, along with previews to two of the videos.
01. Pretty Hurts
02. Haunted
03. Drunk in Love (feat. Jay Z)
04. Blow
05. No Angel
06. Partition
07. Jealous
08. Rocket
09. Mine (feat. Drake)
10. XO
11. Flawless (feat. Chimamanda)
12. Superpower (feat. Frank Ocean)
13. Heaven
14. Blue (feat. Blue Ivy)
15. Pretty Hurts (video)
16. Ghost (video)
17. Haunted (video)
18. Drunk in Love (feat. Jay Z) (video)
19. Blow (video)
20. No Angel (video)
21. Yoncé (video)
22. Partition (video)
23. Jealous (video)
24. Rocket (video)
25. Mine (feat. Drake) (video)
26. XO (video)
27. Flawless (feat. Chimamanda) (video)
28. Superpower (feat. Frank Ocean) (video)
29. Heaven (video)
30. Blue (feat. Blue Ivy) (video)
31. Grown Woman (bonus video)
32. Credits (video)
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