The album, which features such songs as Candy Store and the first single Four Minutes, is the follow-up to Confessions on a Dance Floor, which debuted at No. 1 on the US pop chart in November 2005.

The title and release date were first reported by Entertainment Weekly's Web site (http://www.ew.com), and the details were confirmed by Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg. Entertainment Weekly quoted Rosenberg as saying the 49-year-old singer "loves candy."

Hard Candy will be Madonna's last studio release for Warner Bros before she begins a wide-ranging 10-year recording, touring and merchandising deal with Artist Nation, a new initiative launched by concert promoter Live Nation. Warner Bros, a unit of Warner Music Group Corp will also release a hits collection.