2012 New Album Previews

Leona Lewis Title: Glassheart | Release Date: TBA

Ryan Tedder, Dallas Austin and Fraser T. Smith are among the writer/producers who have already contributed to "Glassheart," the third studio set from U.K. singer Leona Lewis ( @leonalewismusic), who got her start after winning the third season of "The X Factor." To whet fans' appetite, Lewis released the Smith-produced EP "Hurt" in December, although none of the tracks are expected to appear on the coming album. Work on the project is ongoing.

Ludacris Title: Ludaversal | Release Date: 1st Quarter

Billed as a sequel to sixth album "Theater of the Mind," which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, rapper/actor Christopher " Ludacris" Bridges' eighth studio album will be his first release since his chart-topping 2010 effort, "Battle of the Sexes." The project, originally said to be a late-2011 release, will feature production by the Neptunes. "People have an idea of who I am but they still don't know me," says Ludacris ( @ludacris), who recently appeared in the film "New Year's Eve." "I have different fans because I'm so versatile. Some fans want to listen to a certain type of Ludacris and others want to listen to another type. I want to incorporate everything everyone wants to hear from me and add more on Ludaversal."

Esperanza Spalding Title: Radio Music Society | Release Date: March 20

As Esperanza Spalding ( @espespalding) prepares for her first Heads Up International album since becoming the first jazz artist to win the best new artist Grammy Award, she says it's music for the non-jazz listener that provides a foundation for jazz artists to express themselves. "It intrigues me to think about different presentation approaches while writing each kind of song," the Portland, Ore.-based bassist/composer said in a statement. "On the pop song side, I think about listeners who aren't into jazz." For her new album (her fourth), Spalding recorded with saxophonist Joe Lovano, keyboardist Leo Genovese and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington; guests include Jack DeJohnette, Billy Hart, Lionel Loueke, Lalah Hathaway and teenage horn players from the American Music Program. Rapper/producer Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest) is featured on two songs, which he also produced.

Madonna Title: "M.D.N.A." | Release Date: March

Madonna scored her first top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1983 with "Holiday" -- and she's been on the move ever since. One of the music industry's few career artists, the singer/songwriter/producer/entrepreneur -- in tandem with longtime manager Guy Oseary ( @guyoseary) -- possesses an innate sense when it comes to reading the pulse of the industry and what her fans want.

Following November rumors, it was formally announced in December that the singer had inked a three-album pact with Interscope -- at a base of $1 million per album. This is in addition to her continuing the 10-year multirights album deal with Live Nation signed in 2007, which is reported to be worth as much as $100 million.

During her three-decade career, Madonna's Nielsen SoundScan-era (1991-present) U.S. album sales stand at 26.9 million, and she holds the record for the most successful tour by a solo artist, according to Billboard Boxscore. The seven-time Grammy Award winner is also a Rock and Roll of Fame inductee. Her last album, 2008's Hard Candy, debuted at No. 1 in 27 countries.

The first studio album under Madonna's new pact -- and first since leaving longtime label Warner Bros. after Hard Candy -- will be released in late March. The yet-untitled set finds Madonna collaborating with producers Martin Solveig and William Orbit. Through spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg, Madonna told Billboard that she's "thrilled" to be collaborating again with Orbit, who co-produced her 1998 album, "Ray of Light."

Also in December, the singer completed the Megaforce-directed video for the new album's first single, "Gimme All Your Luvin'." Featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., the single arrives the last week of January -- just ahead of Madonna's buzzed-about performance at Super Bowl XLVI's halftime show on Feb. 5. With Cirque du Soleil, Moment Factory and Jamie King in tow as collaborators, the performance is sure to be memorable.

Frankie J Title: TBA | Release Date: Summer

In 2005, Frankie J ( @therealfrankiej) reached a bilingual, bicultural audience with his 2005 breakout album "The One," which hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Now, he's signed to Universal Music Latino and set to release his new Spanish-language album this summer. "He'll display a more pop-leaning vein that will surprise his fans and open new markets," Universal managing director Luis Estrada says, noting that Frankie J either wrote or co-wrote most of the tracks on the new collection. According to Estrada, the album will be released simultaneously in Mexico, Central America and the United States with a first single slated for the first quarter.

Mariah Carey Title: TBA | Release Date: TBA

In September Mariah Carey posted a picture to her Twitter account ( @mariahcarey, 5 million-plus followers) hinting that she was back in the studio with Jermaine Dupri. If the song backing her new Jenny Craig commercial is any indication of the direction of the new album, expect another winner from the best-selling artist of the Nielsen SoundScan era.

Taio Cruz Title: TY.O | Release Date: Early Spring

The third album from U.K. hitmaker Taio Cruz ( @taiocruz)and his second on Mercury/Island Def Jam (the first, "Rockstarr," peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and featured the hit "Dynamite" ), "TY.O" goes even deeper into dance territory, firmly establishing Cruz as the voice of the high-energy radio anthem. Dr. Luke is behind three cuts on the new set, including first single "Hangover" with Flo Rida. "TY.O" also includes "Little Bad Girl," which first appeared on producer David Guetta's "Nothing But the Beat," and one of the first pop production stints by members of Swedish House Mafia, who co-wrote and produced two tracks including next single "Troublemaker."

Frank Ocean Title: TBA | Release Date: TBA

Singer/songwriter and Odd Future affiliate Frank Ocean ( @frank_ocean) self-released his mixtape Nostalgia, ultra. on his Tumblr ( frankocean.tumblr.com) early last year. The set spawned the top 20 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs hit "Novacane" (No. 17 peak) and helped Ocean land appearances on Jay-Z and Kanye West's chart-topping "Watch the Throne," work writing for Beyoncé's "4" and the cover of the Fader. Little is known about the sound and shape of the New Orleans native's coming debut except that West reportedly asked to work on it, a request Ocean has so far denied.

T.I. Title: Trouble Man | Release Date: Summer

After serving a 10-month prison sentence for probation violation (his second 10-month jail stint in as many years), Grammy Award-winning rapper Clifford "T.I." Harris is set to return with his eighth studio album, Trouble Man. "I'm taking myself out of my element," T.I. ( @tip) said in November of the album, his first since 2010's "No Mercy," which bowed at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. "This is the first project where I'm talking about things that I've experienced before that I'm not necessarily experiencing now because I'm not doing a whole lot of partying." T.I. has released a pair of singles reportedly featured on the album - " I'm Flexin'," featuring Big K.R.I.T., and "Hear Ye' Hear Ye'," featuring Pharrell Williams - but neither has yet to make a significant impact on the charts. T.I. released the free mixtape "F*ck Da City Up" at midnight on New Year's Eve.

Timbaland Title: TBA | Release Date: Spring

Originally titled "Shock Value III," Timbaland's fourth solo album will find the rapper/producer "getting back to his roots but still keeping an international appeal," manager Marcus Spence says. The project is Timbaland's first album since 2009's "Shock Value II" and will feature appearances by frequent Timbaland ( @timbaland) collaborators Missy Elliott and Justin Timberlake as well as Benny Benassi. "[Timbaland] has a catalog of music that he's recorded already, [including] collaborations like 'Break Your Back,' featuring Missy Elliott and Dev, and 'Red Bone,' featuring [Timbaland's brother] Sebastian and Petey Pablo," Spence says. A single, "Pass at Me," appeared last October but has yet to chart. 

Garbage Title: TBA | Release Date: Late Spring

Garbage ( @garbage) drummer Butch Vig says the band's still-untitled fifth album is complete and will likely be released in late April or early May. The new set-which he says conjures dark vibes reminiscent of Garbage's first two albums, 1995's self-titled debut and 1998's "Version 2.0" - will be released on the band's own label, whose tentative name is Stun Volume. "We got some offers from some majors, but at this point I feel it's better for us to control exactly what we want to do and not have to deal with any other corporate decisions," says Vig, whose other bandmates are vocalist Shirley Manson, bassist Duke Erikson and guitarist Steve Marker. Garbage's last album, 2001's Bleed Like Me (Almo Sounds/Geffen/Interscope), debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and has sold 284,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Vig says that songs on the new album feature elements of electronica, big beats, noisy guitars, punk riffs and atmospheric film moments. "When we started recording last February, we embraced who we are," he says. "We have an identity when the four of us make music together, and I think these days it's good to have a strong identity."

Nicki Minaj Title: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded | Rel. Date: Feb. 14

The follow-up to her chart-topping 2010 debut, "Pink Friday," which bowed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, launched the most charting singles (eight) from a female rap album in Billboard's history and has sold 1.7 million copies (according to Nielsen SoundScan), Nicki Minaj's ( @nickiminaj) sophomore project, named after alter-ego Roman Zolanski, has already produced two Hot 100 songs, "Roman in Moscow" and "Stupid Hoe." Minaj, who was named the 2011 Rising Star at Billboard's Women in Music event, described the new album as "grimy" in an onstage conversation with ABC's Robin Roberts at the December gala.

Tim McGraw Title: Emotional Traffic | Release Date: Jan. 24

This album goes on sale TODAY. For better or worse, the two decade musical union between Tim McGraw and Curb Records comes to an end. But, it ends with quite a musical bang. The uplifting "Better Than I Used To Be" has already made an impact at radio and on the Country Songs chart. The disc also features a surprise of sorts - R&B star Ne-Yo on the cut "Only Human." Wife Faith Hill appears on the album, and there's also a songwriting collaboration with one of Nashville's other top female vocalists - Martina McBride on "I Will Not Fall Down," which the two co-penned with the Warren Brothers. Other key cuts include "Halo," "Touchdown Jesus," and the powerful "Die By My Own Hand."

Paul McCartney Title: Kisses On The Bottom | Release Date: Feb. 7

Paul McCartney's follow-up to "Memory Almost Full" has been described as a collection of classic songs that inspired the songwriting of the Beatles legend, and on "Kisses On The Bottom," the singer will reinterpret tracks made popular by Sam Cooke ("Home (When Shadows Fall)"), Ella Fitzgerald ("It's Only a Paper Moon") and Danny Kaye ("The Inch Worm"), among others. The  album title comes from the lyrics of Fats Waller's 1935 hit "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself a Letter," which serves as the opening track on McCartney's album.

McCartney ( @paulmccartney) recorded his versions of the classic tracks at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, New York and London last year with producers Tommy LiPuma and Diana Krall. The album will feature two new collaborations: "My Valentine" with Eric Clapton, and "Only Our Hearts" with Stevie Wonder.

No Doubt Title: TBA | Release Date: TBA

In September, Southern California rock act No Doubt ( @nodoubt) announced on its website that its long-awaited new studio album wouldn't be ready for 2011. About two months later, singer Gwen Stefani tweeted enthusiastically about listening to "the new no doubt record." Whenever the project arrives, it'll be the band's sixth studio set and first since 2001's "Rock Steady," which has sold 2.8 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Special thanks to Billboard

-Hot 1000