ATLANTA, US – Thieves targeted a rental car belonging to Beyoncé’s tour crew last week, making off with computer drives containing unreleased music by the global superstar and confidential concert plans, Atlanta police confirmed Monday.
The theft took place on 8 July, just two days before the Grammy-winning artist launched the Atlanta leg of her highly anticipated “Cowboy Carter” tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Exclusive content among stolen items
Choreographer Christopher Grant, 37, discovered the break-in when he returned to find the rental car’s rear window smashed and luggage missing from the vehicle. The stolen items included multiple jump drives containing what police described as “watermarked music, some unreleased music, footage plans for the show, and past and future set lists.”
The thieves also took an Apple MacBook, premium headphones, and several luxury clothing items, according to the police incident report.
Investigation ongoing as suspect evades capture
Atlanta Police Department investigators tracked the stolen MacBook and headphones using location pings but were unable to recover the items. Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for an unnamed suspect who remains at large.
The theft represents a significant security breach for one of the music industry’s most closely guarded operations, potentially exposing unreleased material from the “Cowboy Carter” project.
Cowboy Carter Tour continues despite setback
The incident did not derail Beyoncé’s Atlanta performances, with the superstar completing her four-night residency at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday night. The “Cowboy Carter” tour, which began in April following her historic Grammy win for “Album of the Year,” showcases material from her groundbreaking country-influenced album.
The ambitious project marked Beyoncé’s venture into country music while highlighting the contributions of Black artists to the genre – contributions that have historically been overlooked by the music industry.
