Furious at leaks, Madonna releases songs early

Madonna she decided to put out her new songs immediately after in-studio versions of her tracks dripped onto the Internet.- AFP

New York (AFP) - Madonna on Saturday suddenly released six new songs months ahead of schedule, furious that early versions had leaked online in what she had described as "artistic rape."

The songs will appear on the pop icon's first album in three years, "Rebel Heart," which comes out in March. The six tracks show Madonna going further in a hip-hop direction and include a collaboration with leading female rapper Nicki Minaj.