ONE STEP BEYONCE

Columbia Records definitely Knowles what becomes a superstar like Beyonce most: a massive promotion/marketing campaign, that’s what.

The label is pulling out all the stops for Dangerously in Love, the debut solo album from the Destiny’s Child leader, which hits retail June 24. (Her initial solo effort, "Work It Out," from the soundtrack to last summer’s Austin Powers in Goldmember, does not appear on the new album.)

The release was moved up from the original July 8 date because of piracy concerns and the heat is on the first single/video, "Crazy in Love," featuring Jay-Z. The song is currently moving into the Top 20 at Pop, was #2 Most Added at mix shows last week and is already strong at Urban, Crossover and Rhythm, with an estimated listening audience of 80 million. The video is receiving play on MTV, VH1 and BET.

In addition to Jay-Z, the new album has the 21-year-old Houston native teaming up with such musical collaborators as Missy Elliott ("Signs"), Sean Paul ("Baby Boy"), Mario Winans and OutKast’s Big Boi ("Hip Hop Star"). There’s also a duet with legendary soul crooner Luther Vandross on the ballad "The Closer I Get to You."

Label President Will "To Power" Botwin may have two left feet, but even he realizes he has a huge hit on his hands: "We’ve all been waiting for this album for a while, but that time has been well-served. Beyonce’s written and co-produced everything on the album, and given us a bombshell of a record."

Added Botwin: "First and foremost, we want people to hear the music, to recognize her as a singer, songwriter and performer...and not just the hot babe—I mean, multitalented artist—that she is."

Some of the events surrounding the release:

• Presenter on last month’s MTV Movie Awards.
• Performed on Saturday Night Live and VH1 Divas Duets.
• MTV’s Making the Video (debuts 6/9).
• Live pay-per-view performance at Ford’s The Road Is Ours 10th anniversary celebration concert series in Dearborn, MI (6/14), with Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
• VH1’s Driven (6/23-25).
• Nomination for Best Collaboration with Jay-Z for "03 Bonnie & Clyde" on third annual BET Awards (6/24).
• Upcoming TV appearances on USA Networks’ AFI tribute to Robert DeNiro (6/23), The Today Show (6/27), Fox’s Essence Awards (6/27), NBC’s Fourth of July Special (7/4), CBS Early Show (7/8), ABC’s The View (7/9) and Late Show with David Letterman (7/14).
• Profile on NBC’s Dateline with Katie Couric.
• Covers of Blender, Self, Elle, Jane, Seventeen, Essence, Savoy, Black Beat, Glamour, V, Ocean Drive; features in Teen People, In-Style, YM and Vogue.
• Official Beyonce Wireless Messaging Group offers opportunities to win Destiny’s Child solo albums.
• New movie, The Fighting Temptations, with Cuba Gooding Jr., out Sept. 19.
• TV ads on BET, MTV, CBS; outdoor billboards.
• Launch Artist of the Month (May).