How could Beyonce create an album and a collection of videos along with Jay Z, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Drake, and Frank Ocean without anyone hearing about it until the moment it was released? Who knows? But people across social media heard about it big time when it dropped on Thursday night. This is big news because it marks an interesting shift in the way a major album is marketed. Word got out on social media and by this morning, news of the new album (and it’s secrecy) was being reported across the web. Oh, who am I kidding? This is big news because it’s Beyonce.

+ Slate: How Beyonce got us to pay for music.

+ For now, Beyonce’s album is only available on iTunes. Many of us have switched to streaming. But not that many of us are paying for it. (Just wait. We will.)

+ Here are the four alcohol brands that dominate popular music lyrics.

+ You know how music lessons can improve your intelligence? Well, according to some Harvard Researchers, that’s a myth.