Beyoncé released the visual album Beyoncé without a traditional advance announcement in December 2013.
The self-titled album arrived on the iTunes Store on December 13, 2013. Beyoncé announced it through a short video message, and the release included a music video for every song, making the project both an audio album and a coordinated visual work.
The surprise strategy was highly unusual for a major pop release at the time. It allowed the music and videos to reach listeners without a long sequence of pre-release singles, interviews, and promotional appearances.
The project is often confused with Lemonade, another Beyoncé visual album released in 2016. Beyoncé includes songs such as “Drunk in Love,” “Partition,” and “Flawless,” while Lemonade is structured around a different narrative and track list.