Outraged fans took to social media on Wednesday after Beyonce’s highly anticipated seventh studio album Renaissance was reportedly leaked two days early. The 16-track album is the 40-year-old pop superstar’s first release in six years, and was not supposed to be available until Friday.
But audio files circulated online reportedly allowed some listeners early access to the songs. It prompted angry responses from the superstar's fans – known colloquially as The Beyhive – who urged people not to share links and listen to it before its official release. Following the announcement of the album, her first full-length recording since Lemonade in 2016, she shared a striking piece of artwork showing her astride a luminescent horse, wearing only silver jewellery wrapped around her.
“I hope you find joy in this music,” she wrote on Instagram. “I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.”
Renaissance is expected to feature contributions from her husband Jay-Z, Drake, producer Skrillex and The-Dream. Its prefix, Act 1, has prompted speculation that the record could be the first in a series.
Beyonce, who has scored three number one albums and five number one singles in the UK, has only released one single ahead of release day – the house music-influenced single Break My Soul. It came after she wiped all her social media accounts in June, prompting speculation that new music was on the way.
After confirming that Renaissance would arrive on July 29, Beyonce was revealed to be the cover star of British Vogue’s July issue.
So-called Club Renaissance listening parties will take place on Thursday across the world, organised by Sony, her record label. Beyonce made history last year when she became the most decorated female artist at the Grammy Awards. She won four out of nine nominations, making it 28 over her career, surpassing the 27 notched up by bluegrass-country singer Alison Krauss.
Beyonce and Jay-Z had daughter Blue Ivy in January 2012, and in June 2017 she gave birth to twins Rumi and Sir.
