L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — The singer announces Thursday night that her album 'Beyonce' is immediately available digitally. A double-disc CD/DVD release will follow.With only two weeks left in 2013, Beyoncé pulled off one of the year's biggest surprises in music. more info

Jam! Showbiz Music, Canada — Bow down, Radiohead. You too, Yeezus. And anybody else who thinks they can top Beyonce Knowles when it comes to making an album release a global event. more info

Big Apple Music Scene — Most of us are still recovering from being so blindsided by Beyonce's secret album, but some of her fans have already listened to all the songs and come up with theories for what they're about. They think that one of the ballads, 'Heaven', is about B... more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Beyonce’s surprise album drop constitutes an early holiday gift to fans, but it also figures to bolster her own bank account considerably, enough that it may combine with her other business ventures to deliver her most lucrative year yet, Forbes ... more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — When Beyonce surprised the populace overnight by releasing her self-titled new record exclusively through iTunes, she did so with typical grandiosity. The biggest pop star in the world didn't just flip the switch to sell digital versions of her songs... more info

411 Mania — More news in the wake of Beyonce's release.. more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Of the many curious things about this new Beyonce album: How did it not leak? What, exactly, is a "visual album"? And the biggest question -- will it work? more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Billboard has crowned Bruno Mars as its Artist of the Year over many musicians who grabbed more headlines through the year such as Miley Cyrus, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. more info

411 Mania — Without any promotion or announcement... more info

Mercury News, California — Beyonce released an unexpected new album over night, available on iTunes, featuring 14 songs and 17 videos. more info