Target refuses to stock Beyonce's new album after digital release | Mail Online
By Colette Fahy
PUBLISHED: 14:07 EST, 17 December 2013 | UPDATED: 14:32 EST, 17 December 2013
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Beyonce Knowles' new album has become the fastest-ever seller on iTunes with more than 800,000 downloads in its first three days but Target is refusing to stock it.
The self-titled album, the US superstar's fifth, was released out of the blue on Friday and the retail giant claims its online release will hamper physical CD sales so has taken the decision not to sell it.
Target spokesperson Erica Julkowski told Billboard, 'At Target we focus on offering our guests a wide assortment of physical CDs, and when a new album is available digitally before it is available physically, it impacts demand and sales projections.
Can't please everyone! US retailer Target is refusing to sell Beyonce Knowles' fifth album after she released it online in a surprise move last Friday
'While there are many aspects that contribute to our approach and we have appreciated partnering with Beyonce in the past, we are primarily focused on offering CDs that will be available in a physical format at the same time as all other formats. At this time, Target will not be carrying Beyonce's new self-titled album 'Beyonce.'
However, this doesn’t appear to be impacting Beyonce with an Apple spokeswoman revealing the iTunes Store sold 828,773 albums in just three days.
On the day of its release, iTunes - which is Apple's music download division - said the release was 'an unprecedented strategic move by the artist to deliver music and visual content directly to her fans when she wants to and how she wants to, with no filter.’
Who needs Target! This doesn’t appear to be impacting Beyonce with an Apple spokeswoman revealing the iTunes Store sold 828,773 albums in just three days
With no 'middle man', fans are being encouraged to form their own opinions after listening to and watching the tracks.
Beyonce added: 'I didn't want to release my music the way I've done it. I am bored with that. I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There's so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans.
Surprise! The self-titled album, the US superstar's fifth, was released out of the blue on Friday
'I felt like I didn't want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it's ready and from me to my fans.'
The singer's fifth solo album opted out of the standard three month marathon of promotional stints, reviews, and dropping individual singles.
Boycott: US retailer Target is refusing to sell physical copies of Beyonce's new album because she released it online first
Instead, the trend setter released the entire album in one fell swoop without any fanfare.
The album includes 14 songs, 17 videos, and collaborations with husband Jay Z, Drake and Frank Ocean.