Australian Digital Radio Network - Britney Spears

Blackout is the fifth studio album by American singer Britney Spears. It was released on October 25, 2007, by Jive Records.

Its production and release occurred as Spears' personal struggles were highly publicized and overshadowed her professional projects. She executive-produced the album, working with producers Danja, Bloodshy & Avant, Sean Garrett, and the Neptunes, among others; it is the only album on which Spears is credited as the executive producer. The final result was primarily a dance-pop and electropop record with R&B, Euro disco and dubstep influences, with lyrical themes revolving around love, fame, media scrutiny, sex, and clubbing. Blackout was originally slated for November 13, 2007, but was rush-released after leaking online. Initial reviews were polarized: some critics described it as Spears' most progressive and consistent album to date, while others dismissed it due to her controversial public image. The album charted at number one in Canada and Ireland while reaching the top five in Australia, Brazil, France, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Scotland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Blackout later received platinum certifications from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It won Best Album at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards. By the end of 2008, it had sold 3.1 million copies worldwide. Blackout produced three singles. "Gimme More" peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming her highest-peaking single on the chart since "...Baby One More Time" (1998), and reached the top ten in an additional 16 countries. "Piece of Me" peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, but replicated the international commercial success of its predecessor. Its accompanying music video won Spears her first MTV Video Music Award, winning Video of the Year, Best Female Video and Best Pop Video in 2008. "Break the Ice" did not fare as well as its predecessors, peaking at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. Originally intended as the fourth single, "Radar" was later included on Spears' following studio album Circus and was released as its fourth and final single in June 2009. Unlike her previous albums, Spears did not heavily promote Blackout; her only televised appearance for the album was a universally panned performance of "Gimme More" at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. However, a number of its songs were performed on her subsequent tour the Circus Starring Britney Spears (2009) and later on her concert residency Britney: Piece of Me (2013–2017). In retrospect, the album has been deemed a career highlight for Spears and has been praised for its massive impact on the ensuing decade of pop music, being credited for bringing the electropop, avant-disco, EDM, and Dubstep sounds to mainstream prominence. Blackout has been listed among the best albums of all time by numerous publications.