The Beyonce Checklist: How A Superstar Keeps An Album Secret

1. Code Name: Lily

Billboard has revealed that step one in Beyonce's operation to drop a surprise album ahead of Christmas was the use of code names. The self-titled album, that seemingly came out of nowhere for the R&B superstar on Friday, was referred to as 'Lily' by her inner circle. Record company sources have told Billboard that the album started taking shape in October with Beyonce still working on vocals as late as the Thanksgiving holiday (November 28). Record company staff were finally only briefed about the secret squirrel project this past Thursday. And, here we thought Beyonce's penchant for trenchcoats was just a fashion statement.

2. Give Yourself The Luxury Of A Fluid Deadline

If you're Beyonce, you can afford to set your own deadlines - no one's going to be screaming at her for missing a cut-off date. Got vocals to finish? What producer isn't going to bump another project to fit in some work for a new Beyonce project? Got video clips to complete for each new track? What director wouldn't be happy to work around a global touring schedule? And hey, as the tour wraps up, Beyonce will announce a date for a possible 'theatrical' presentation for the new clips. If the video premiere doesn't happen, who's complaining - you only just saw her in concert, for crissakes.

3. Keep Off Instagram

There were a lot of covert meetings, according to Billboard. Only the top tier of executives from Columbia, Parkwood (Beyonce's management team) and iTunes (there is no physical distribution until December 21) were in the loop. So no snapshots of Beyonce at 'Lily' meetings surfaced on social media and definitely no "chillin' wit Sia" status updates. Considering the 14-track/17-clip set involved the likes of Jay Z, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Drake, The Dream, Sia, Ryan Tedder, Miguel, Frank Ocean, Hit Boy, Ammo, Boots, Detail, Jake Nava, Hype Williams and Terry Richardson - thats a lot of social media feeds not quite telling the whole truth of late.

Now that the secret's out, Beyonce talks us through the thoughts behind her self-titled "visual album" - and it's a lot about letting us into her head. It would seem her head is full of Michael Jackson and a dislike for iPod culture: