Beyoncé’s self-titled 2013 album became the first album in her discography to debut at number one without advance promotion.
Columbia Records released Beyoncé as a surprise digital album on December 13, 2013, with no traditional pre-release announcement or promotional campaign. The project was presented as a visual album because every song was accompanied by a music video. This release strategy became one of the defining music-industry events of the decade.
The album contains songs such as “Drunk in Love,” “Partition,” and “Flawless.” It features appearances by Jay-Z, Frank Ocean, Drake, and other collaborators. Beyoncé described the project as an effort to let listeners experience the music as a complete work rather than judge it only through singles.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and won three Grammy Awards. It is often called a surprise album, although its videos and production had been developed privately over an extended period before release.