# Hard Candy

> 2008 studio album by Madonna

**Wikidata**: [Q483778](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q483778)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Candy_(Madonna_album))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hard-candy-q483778-2

## Summary
Hard Candy is the eleventh studio album by American singer Madonna, released on April 28, 2008. The album was issued by Warner Records Inc., the American record company that serves as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group. It represents a specific grouping of album releases by the artist, available in various formats including digital, CD, and LP.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date:** April 28, 2008
- **Artist:** Madonna
- **Label:** Warner Records Inc. (American record company; subsidiary of Warner Music Group)
- **Album Type:** Studio album
- **Parent Organization:** Warner Music Group (founded April 6, 1958)
- **Label Headquarters:** Burbank, Los Angeles County, California, United States
- **Label Inception (Current Name):** May 28, 2019 (re-established following the dissolution of Warner Bros. Records)
- **Label Predecessor:** Warner Bros. Records Inc. (operated 1958–2019)
- **Associated Singles:** "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland), "Give It 2 Me" (released 2007), "Miles Away", "Beat Goes On"
- **Genre Context:** Includes elements of hip-hop (rhythmic music accompanied by rhyming speech, inception: August 11, 1973)
- **Wikidata Description:** 2008 studio album by Madonna
- **Wikipedia Title:** Hard Candy (Madonna album)
- **Sitelink Count:** 50
- **Discography Context:** Part of "Madonna's albums in chronological order" (Wikimedia discography)

## FAQs
**What is the release history and format of Madonna's Hard Candy album?**
Hard Candy was released as a studio album on April 28, 2008, and is categorized as a grouping of releases by Madonna available in multiple consumption formats such as digital, CD, and LP. It was distributed under the Warner Records label, which operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

**Which singles were released from the Hard Candy album and when?**
The album spawned several singles, including "Give It 2 Me," which was released in 2007, and "4 Minutes," a 2008 track featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. Other associated singles from the project include "Miles Away" and "Beat Goes On."

**How does the label Warner Records relate to the album's release?**
Warner Records Inc. is the American record company responsible for the album, having been re-established under its current name in 2019 after the dissolution of its predecessor, Warner Bros. Records. Although the label was renamed in 2019, it continues the legacy of the Warner Bros. Records entity that originally operated from 1958 to 2019.

**What genre influences are present in the Hard Candy album?**
The album incorporates elements of hip-hop, a genre defined as rhythmic music accompanied by rhyming speech that originated on August 11, 1973. This stylistic choice aligns with the broader musical trends and collaborations featured on the record.

## Why It Matters
Hard Candy holds significance as a major studio release in Madonna's extensive discography, marking a specific chapter in her career during the late 2000s. Its release through Warner Records connects it to one of the most historically significant names in the American music industry, a label with a lineage tracing back to 1958. The album's distribution highlights the strategic evolution of the Warner music ecosystem, specifically the transition from Warner Bros. Records to the rebranded Warner Records in 2019, which allowed the music brand to operate with greater independence while maintaining its prestigious heritage. Furthermore, the album's inclusion of hip-hop elements and collaborations with high-profile artists like Justin Timberlake and Timbaland reflects the genre's dominance and the industry's shift toward cross-genre fusion during that era. As part of the "big three" global music conglomerates via Warner Music Group, the album contributes to the label's position in the global marketplace, competing alongside Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment.

## Notable For
- **Chronological Placement:** Serves as a key entry in "Madonna's albums in chronological order," representing her eleventh studio effort.
- **Collaborative Features:** Notable for the single "4 Minutes," which features prominent artists Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.
- **Genre Integration:** Distinguished by its incorporation of hip-hop, a genre established in 1973, into Madonna's pop framework.
- **Label Legacy:** Released under the Warner Records banner, continuing the legacy of Warner Bros. Records which operated for over six decades prior to the 2019 rebrand.
- **Format Versatility:** Available as a grouped release across digital, CD, and LP formats for diverse consumer consumption.
- **Singles Success:** Produced multiple notable singles including "Give It 2 Me" (2007), "Miles Away," and "Beat Goes On."
- **Corporate Context:** Represents a release within the Warner Music Group ecosystem, a conglomerate employing approximately 4,520 people globally.

## Body
### Release and Classification
Hard Candy is classified as a 2008 studio album by Madonna, released on April 28, 2008. In the context of music cataloging, it is defined as an album, which is a grouping of album releases by an artist usually released at the same time with the same title and tracks but in different formats for consumption. These formats include digital, CD, and LP. The entity has a sitelink count of 50, indicating its presence across various language editions of Wikipedia. The official Wikipedia title for this entity is "Hard Candy (Madonna album)," and its Wikidata description is explicitly "2008 studio album by Madonna."

### Label and Corporate Structure
The album was released by Warner Records Inc., an American record company that functions as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group. Warner Records Inc. was re-established under its current name on May 28, 2019, following the dissolution of its parent company, Warner Bros. Entertainment, and the predecessor label, Warner Bros. Records Inc. The original Warner Bros. Records operated from March 19, 1958, until 2019. The rebranding to Warner Records marked a strategic shift to separate the music brand from its film and television heritage, allowing it to operate with greater independence while maintaining brand recognition. Warner Music Group, the parent company, was founded on April 6, 1958, and is headquartered in the United States, with specific operations in New York City and Burbank, California. The conglomerate employs approximately 4,520 people globally and stands as one of the "big three" music companies, competing with Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment.

### Associated Singles and Tracks
Several singles are directly associated with the Hard Candy album. "Give It 2 Me" is a 2008 single by Madonna, with an inception date of 2007. "4 Minutes" is a 2008 single featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, noted for its high sitelink count of 34. Other singles linked to the album include "Miles Away" and "Beat Goes On." These tracks are part of the broader discography of Madonna, which is cataloged in the Wikimedia project "Madonna's albums in chronological order." The album also features elements of hip-hop, a genre characterized by rhythmic music accompanied by rhyming speech, which saw its inception on August 11, 1973.

### Geographic and Historical Context
Warner Records, the label behind Hard Candy, is headquartered in Burbank, Los Angeles County, California. Burbank was incorporated on May 1, 1887, and is a historic center of the American entertainment industry, hosting major studios like Warner Bros. Studios and Walt Disney Studios. The location of the label in Burbank places it at the heart of the entertainment ecosystem, a tradition established by its predecessor, Warner Bros. Records, which was founded in 1958 as a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Pictures. The United States serves as the country of operation for the label, representing the world's largest music market. The corporate timeline of the label includes its founding in 1958, acquisition by Time Warner in 1990, spin-off as an independent company in 2004, and the 2019 re-establishment as Warner Records.

### Industry Impact and Ecosystem
Hard Candy exists within a complex ecosystem of related entertainment entities. The label's parent, Warner Music Group, operates numerous other record labels and music publishing operations. The historical connection to Warner Bros. Entertainment remains part of the company's heritage, even though the music division now operates separately from the film and television complex. The album's release reflects the industry's adaptation to the transition from physical to digital music consumption and the rise of streaming platforms. As a major subsidiary of Warner Music Group, the label contributes to the conglomerate's position in the global entertainment marketplace. The rebranding of the label in 2019 allowed it to maintain its identity and brand recognition while operating as a direct subsidiary of Warner Music Group, reflecting broader industry trends toward specialization and brand differentiation.

## References

1. MusicBrainz
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000782718)