KINGSTON, Jamaica — Following the release of Beyonce’s self-titled fifth solo studio album, early Friday, Billboard.com has reported that it is likely headed towards a Number 1 debut on the Billboard 200 when that chart’s top 10 is revealed next Wednesday, December 18.

The album, released as an iTunes exclusive “visual” album, is retailing for US$15.99 and contains 14 tracks and 14 accompanying videos, along with other bonus video content. 

In just a three-hour sales window, ‘Beyonce’ reportedly sold over 80,000 copies, according to industry sources. 

“It’s still too early to judge what the set will do over the full three days left in the sales tracking week (which ends Sunday night), but with prior projected leader, ‘Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades Of Influences’ by Garth Brooks, estimated to shift 150,000-160,000 units, Beyonce is already halfway to that sum. 

And in the time it would take someone to fly from New York to Miami,” Billboard.com reported.

The album release was so heavily guarded, that reportedly only a dozen or so members of her Sony Records family were even aware of the set being pushed to iTunes yesterday evening.

Beyonce’s last studio set “4” sold 310,000 in its debut week in July of 2011.

No set date has been announced for release of the CD to physical retailers, or of the album’s availability on other digital download sites.