Beyoncé is the title of her 2013 surprise visual album released without advance announcement.
Beyoncé was released digitally on December 13, 2013, through iTunes with no traditional pre-release campaign. The self-titled project contained 14 songs and 17 accompanying music videos, making the visual component part of the album’s central design rather than a later promotional add-on.
The release strategy was highly unusual for a major pop album. Beyoncé announced it through a short message on Instagram, and the sudden availability generated extensive discussion about how artists could control timing, marketing, and fan access in the digital era.
The album includes “Drunk in Love,” “Partition,” and “Pretty Hurts.” It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making Beyoncé the first artist to have her first five studio albums debut at number one in the United States. The title is commonly styled Beyoncé, while “Beyoncé” is also used to identify the album in reference works.