Is Beyoncé About to Drop a Surprise ‘Act II’ Album? Release Date, Tracklist Rumors & How to Listen

ATLANTA—Beyoncé’s record-shattering “Cowboy Carter Tour” hit an unexpected snag this week after five thumb drives containing unreleased Beyoncé music, detailed show plans, and set lists were stolen from a rental vehicle used by her creative team outside a popular food hall in downtown Atlanta on July 8. Tour choreographer Christopher Grant and dancer Diandre Blue told Atlanta Police they left the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer for roughly an hour between rehearsals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Beyoncé wrapped a four-night residency on July 14. When they returned, a smashed rear window and two missing suitcases signaled the heist, which also netted two MacBooks, Apple headphones, and luxury wardrobe pieces. Investigators quickly traced the laptops via location services, recovered light fingerprints, and identified a suspect vehicle—a 2025 red Hyundai Elantra—captured on security cameras. An arrest warrant has since been issued, though authorities have not yet released the suspect’s name. Why the stolen drives matter • The USBs reportedly hold unfinished tracks that could reveal Beyoncé’s next sonic era and undercut the superstar’s famously tight release strategy. • Copyright lawyers note that leaking unreleased material can diminish future streaming and sales revenue, while compromising potential collaborators’ work. • Beyoncé’s team historically deploys heavy digital security; the intrusion underscores evolving threats to touring artists who rely on portable tech for choreography videos, lighting cues, and in-ear mixes. Fan reaction and tour momentum Social media erupted with #ProtectCowboyCarter as members of the BeyHive urged anyone offered illicit files to alert authorities and refuse to share them. Despite the breach, Beyoncé delivered a Fourth of July–themed show celebrating democracy on July 5 and closed her Atlanta stint with record attendance numbers, reinforcing the tour’s status as 2025’s top-grossing North American trek. Security upgrades ahead of Las Vegas finale Parkwood Entertainment sources say additional encrypted backups, GPS-tagged equipment cases, and expanded private security will travel with the production as Beyoncé heads to Phoenix, Dallas, and a two-night Las Vegas curtain call later this month. Venue operators have been advised to bolster backstage surveillance and restrict dock access to credentialed personnel only. Industry precedents High-profile thefts aren’t new—Madonna’s “Rebel Heart” demos leaked in 2014 and Lady Gaga’s “Chromatica” stems surfaced during 2019 rehearsals—but the Atlanta incident highlights how thieves now target physical drives rather than cloud servers, betting on quick black-market paydays before anti-piracy teams mobilize. What’s next for fans • Expect tightened bag policies and metal-detector sweeps at remaining “Cowboy Carter” dates. • Beyoncé’s label, Columbia Records, may accelerate studio sessions to outpace possible leaks. • Law enforcement urges concertgoers to report any suspicious second-hand sales of “exclusive Beyoncé music” online. Bottom line The stolen thumb drives pose one of the most serious intellectual-property threats Beyoncé has faced in her 25-year career. Yet, with police closing in on the suspect and the BeyHive’s zero-tolerance stance toward leaks, the superstar’s creative vision—and the tour’s historic run—appear poised to gallop forward unbroken.