Beyonce talks surprise album rumours

Singer Beyonce is set to release a new album. Photo / Getty Images

Beyonce has announced an expanded boxed-set of her multimillion-selling self-titled album after speculation that she would drop another surprise release of new material.

The pop sensation said that the platinum edition of Beyonce, with two CDs and two DVDs, would feature two new songs, four new remixes with star collaborators and a concert video.

The edition - which goes on sale on November 24 ahead of the holiday shopping season - also includes the full album Beyonce, which she released unexpectedly in December 2013 on iTunes with no prior publicity.

The announcement will temper speculation that Beyonce is planning another surprise album of new material.

Since the weekend, social media have been abuzz with an image of what appeared to be a record company memo describing an upcoming Beyonce release, raising hopes among her fans.

The purported memo said that a four-disc set would be physically released on "Monday, November 25" - November 25 is a Tuesday - with an iTunes-only release on November 14.

Beyonce's announcement made no mention of an iTunes version.

Beyonce enraged some major retailers by releasing the self-titled album last year first on iTunes, brushing aside the usual practice of timing digital and physical sales together.

Beyonce sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide, broke the iTunes record for debut sales and spawned hit singles including XO and Drunk In Love, performed with her husband Jay Z.

- AFP