Beyoncé Unreleased and Stolen Music: Arrest Made in Atlanta

Atlanta law enforcement has apprehended a suspect linked to the theft of hard drives holding unreleased music, performance footage, and set lists belonging to international superstar Beyoncé. Kelvin Evans was arrested on August 26 by the Atlanta Police Department’s Larceny from Auto Unit. The investigation was launched after the items were taken from a rental vehicle on July 8.

The theft occurred while Beyoncé was performing a four-show engagement at Mercedes-Benz Stadium—a premier Atlanta venue known for its innovative retractable roof and ability to host crowds exceeding 70,000—as part of her highly successful Cowboy Carter tour. According to official reports, the stolen luggage belonged to choreographer Christopher Grant and dancer Diandre Blue, both integral contributors to the artist’s creative ensemble. A 911 call highlighted the critical nature of the loss, given the confidential and professionally sensitive content involved.

An arrest warrant for Evans had been issued in July by the Hapeville Police Department, but he evaded capture until late August, when he was taken into custody and booked at the Fulton County Jail. Authorities have confirmed that the hard drives and other stolen items remain missing. The disappearance of such proprietary material introduces significant commercial and creative risks. Entertainment attorney Mara Jensen noted, “Leaked unreleased content can disrupt marketing timelines, devalue exclusivity, and damage an artist’s relationship with their audience.”

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour concluded on July 26 in Paradise, Nevada, after 32 stadium performances, each featuring a 40-song setlist. The tour has been widely regarded as one of the most lucrative and critically praised live productions of the year. This incident underscores the ongoing security vulnerabilities confronting large touring acts, where valuable intellectual property is consistently transported between venues, raising the potential for theft or unauthorized access.

Major concert tours frequently involve moving enormous volumes of sensitive data—including unreleased songs, visual concepts, and choreography recordings—making them appealing marks for theft. In response, many industry teams are adopting stricter measures such as end-to-end encryption, GPS-tracked storage cases, and dedicated digital security personnel to protect creative works while on tour.