Beyonce and Mathew Knowles Respond to Speculation Regarding Release Date of Beyonce's Upcoming Album, 'B'Day'

Beyonce and Mathew Knowles Respond to Speculation Regarding Release Date of Beyonce's Upcoming Album, 'B'Day'

NEW YORK, July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- An item appearing in the press on Friday, July 28 falsely speculated that the upcoming release and pre-sale date for Beyonce's new album, "B'Day," were set in response to an upcoming album release by LeToya Luckett, a former member of Destiny's Child.

In order to put a stop to these unfounded rumors, Beyonce and her manager, Mathew Knowles, have each issued statements clarifying the facts of the situation.

"I have enormous respect and admiration for LeToya as an artist and a business woman and I wish her incredible success with her debut CD and her career," said Beyonce. "LeToya and I have known each other since childhood and, because of all we've been through, I know that we both really care -- and want what's best -- for each other.

"We are pleased that LeToya has chosen to include our House of Dereon designs in her Lady Elle boutique in Houston and look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.

"It makes me sad that that people are trying to stir up a controversy where there is none. LeToya makes fantastic music and it would be great if her fans, as well as the press, could simply enjoy it on its own merits and not engage in negative speculation."

"I'm shocked and amazed that this is even an issue," said Mathew Knowles. "It's standard practice in the music industry for upcoming albums to go on pre-sale well in advance of an in-store date.

"From the time Beyonce began working on her new album, 'B'Day,' we wanted to release it in early September to coincide with her 25th birthday on September 4. Our pre-sale strategy is a logical and sensible lead-in to that target date and has nothing to do with the scheduled releases of any other albums by any other artists."

For more information, please contact Yvette Noel-Schure, Sony Urban Music, New York, 212-833-4483; email: Yvette.Noel-Schure@sonybmg.com

PRNewswire -- July 31

Source: Music World Music; Sony Urban Music; Columbia Records

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/

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