Shoutout to Rap-Up.

After reports of dissatisfaction, panic and other pre-release drama, executives at Columbia Records are feeling vindicated by the positive early returns for Beyonce’s new album, 4. “All the speculation that gets around is frustrating when it’s just not true,” Columbia/Epic Label Group Chairman Rob Stringer tells Billboard.com. “The story about us being unhappy with the record and stuff is just not true. There’s never been any doubt or conversations about moving the record or changing it… Those conversations never existed. We’re really, really happy with it.” The label is particularly pleased with sales reports from “4′s” initial days of official availability. Stringer says early indications are that the album will debut at No. 1 in as many as 14 countries, including the U.S., and in the Top 3 worldwide. It went triple-platinum in Brazil on its first day of sale, while U.K. projections have it selling “well over” 90,000 copies in its first week — which more than doubles “I Am…Sasha Fierce’s” roll-out in 2008 — and 1.6 million over its lifespan. The album’s second single, “Best Thing I Never Had,” is No. 1 on the U.K. iTunes charts and currently sits at No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 29 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. “The numbers are very good everywhere,” Stringer notes. “We thought the record is great from the beginning, and some of the stuff that is happening now is vindication of it.”

Read more for more exciting news!

More after the cut…

Beyoncé heads the British album charts at the midweek stage, with “4″ outselling its nearest rival by three to one boosted by her weekend appearance at Glastonbury, sales data showed on Wednesday. According to the Official Charts Company (OCC), Beyoncé is set to top the ranking by the end of the week, which would be her second British number one.

She was one of several acts to enjoy the “Glastonbury effect,” where media exposure of one of the world’s biggest music festivals boosts performers who appear. The event ran from Wednesday to Sunday, with U2, Coldplay and Beyonce grabbing most of the limelight with their headline slots on the final three days.

Besides her new album, Beyoncé’s single ‘Best Thing I Never Had’ was on course to enter at number six, one of seven tracks by the singer in the Top 75.

In the meantime Beyonce’s 4 will debut at #1 next week on the Billboard chart with between 275-300k in first-week sales. Her previous album, ‘08’s multiple Grammy winning I Am… Sasha Fierce, debuted with 463k, but that was during the Q4 sales rush in November.

Beyoncé performed Run The World (Girls) & Best Thing I Never Had during the finale of the French X Factor.

Beyoncé released 4 on Tuesday (June 28), and she’s taking fans behind-the-scenes of her new album in the MTV special “Beyoncé: Year of 4,” set to premiere on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, BET, VH1 and Palladia (encore presentations will air on MTV.com, MTV Hits and MTV Jams immediately after the show’s world premiere). The special was filmed during Beyoncé’s year off, as she set out to discover what she wanted next in her career. It kicks off as B wraps up her I Am Tour, and finds herself at a crossroads before eventually giving into her mother’s advice to take some time off. “My life was award shows and tour buses and hotels and it kind of goes by so fast … I couldn’t even hear it anymore,” she says of her whirlwind schedule. “I’m just thinking about the next shoot … the next video … the next tour.”

Fans are with Queen B as she travels, hangs out with family, friends and husband Jay-Z, and takes time to reflect on her crazy successful career. “I never even realized I needed a year off,” she later says. “And I never realized I don’t know how to take a year off.” During this reflective time in her life, Beyoncé also began working on her most eclectic album to date, mixing genres and styles to make 4. The special also takes a look at her career as she takes charge of her business. “It was very risky for me to set out on my own,” she says. “Sometimes we don’t reach for the stars, sometimes we are satisfied with what people tell us we’re supposed to be satisfied with, and I’m just not going for it.”

4, B’s fourth solo album, is a mix of sassy uptempo tracks like the lead single “Run the World (Girls),” soft ballads like “1+1,” as well as sassy midtempo songs like “Best Thing I Never Had.” She worked with producers and artists like The-Dream, Kanye West and Andre 3000 for the release. “Being able to take viewers behind the creative curtain of one of the world’s most amazing and talented artists, Beyoncé, in the lead-up to her album release is a pure thrill,” Van Toffler, President, MTV Music Group, LOGO and Film, said in a statement. “This honest and intimate special provides her audience and fans a rare opportunity to witness a true, musical genius at work and the stories that defined and inspired her incredible new album.”

Tune in to “Beyoncé: Year of 4,” airing Thursday, June 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, BET, VH1 and Palladia. Encore presentations follow on MTV.com, MTV Hits and MTV Jams.

Our gallery was updated with new Beyonce pictures spotted in Camden this week.

Tinie Tempah
BEYONCE… Shepherds bush… AMAZING #DISTURBINGLONDON

MTV
Beyonce was incredible, feel so lucky so have seen such a legend in such a small venue! Her cover of Bohemian Rhapsody was fab.

OK Magazine
What a night, we got a snap of Alexandra Burke singing along to Listen too but iPhone hates us. Beyonce is the queen!

Daily Mail
Bee stormed through Run The World looking good in a yellow fringed mini dress and glitter shoes.

4Music
Beyonce’s singing Listen and Alexandra Burke is on her feet belting out every word. Awww…

Beyoncé’s long awaited fourth album, 4, is now available to buy WORLDWIDE. Click here to buy it on iTunes and click here to buy it on Amazon. You can also pick up the Deluxe Edition exclusively at Target. Let’s show Beyoncé how much we love and appreciate her by making this her fourth #1 album. LET’S GO!

Beyonce Knowles was spotted by a crowd of her fans leaving London’s Harrods after recording a piece for an edition of ‘Life Stories’ with Piers Morgan.

In our gallery you will find now some pictures of Bey performing at Glastonbury Festival yesterday. Scroll down for a streamed video.