Spears forced to release new album due to leaks

October 11, 2007

Los Angeles - Britney Spears' record label Jive Records, has announced that Spears comeback album will be released two weeks earlier than planned due to leaks over the internet.

Britney Spears' record label Jive Records, has announced that Spears comeback album will be released two weeks earlier than planned due to leaks over the internet.

The eagerly anticipated new album -- "Blackout"-- will reach stores on Oct. 30 in the United States, and a day earlier internationally, Jive Records said.

"Due to these numerous unauthorized on-line leaks, the label is doing everything possible to prevent and avoid any further illegal distribution of songs including moving up the release date of the album to October 30th," a statement from the label said.

The troubled pop princess' hopes of relaunching her career may hinge on the success of the new album -- her first album of new material in four years.

"Gimme More," the first single already released from "Blackout," topped Billboard's Hot Digital Songs chart at No. 1 with 179,000 downloads, and jumped from No. 68 to No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 last week.

Earlier this week, Spears was ordered to be booked in her hit-and-run case by a Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner.

The hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26.