Britney Spears is preparing for a pop music takeover in 2016, and her sound is taking some inspiration from The Weeknd according to manager Larry Rudolph…

This week is shaping up to be an excellent week for the B-Army! On Saturday (February 13) pop princess Britney Spears made a triumphant return to her Las Vegas residency Britney: Piece Of Me. Spears debuted a recently revamped show to critical acclaim, and the good news continues as we learn more about Britney’s upcoming 9th studio album.

According to Spears’s manager Larry Rudolph, the album is coming pretty soon!

Although Britney Spears herself is notoriously tightlipped in regards to release schedules, Rudolph opted to reveal additional details in a recent interview with The Las Vegas Sun. He claims that the album is “probably about 80% done,” and he is “thrilled.” He added that “she has not sounded better in – I don’t know when.”

Apparently, Britney is equally pumped by the results of her hard work in the studio. “She said this is my favorite album that I’ve ever done” Rudolph stated about his talented superstar. 

Fans should expect a slightly different sound from the highly anticipated B9. Fans have noticed that Spears’s most recent releases (2013’s Britney Jean and 2011’s Femme Fatale) have been driven towards a purely pop aesthetic; however, this new album is exploring new territories.

“It’s different. It’s really sort of a turn” Rudolph revealed regarding the album’s direction. “The last few albums have been pretty straight forward pop – this is different. This is almost like Britney meets The Weeknd. It’s got a really interesting vibe.”

Looks like our pristine pop princess is looking to explore some darker tones on the new album, and we’re thrilled!

The alleged first single from Britney Spears’s upcoming release is titled “Just Luv Me.” The track created a bit of a stir last week, upon being registered with Broadcast Music. Featuring writing and production from Cashmere Cat, the track could be the first taste of new music from the Holy Spearit in 2016.

Britney Spears has also confirmed that new music will be coming “soon,” and she also confirmed that the new music will be represented in additional changes to Britney: Piece of Me. “I have a new album coming out soon, so it’s just like a taste of what’s to come” Spears said of the revamped show. “The new stuff isn’t actually in it yet, but there’s a lot of surprises.” Sounds like there are even more surprises to come…

Don’t leave us hanging too long Britney!

How do you feel about a Britney Spears album inspired by The Weeknd’s slick R&B stylings? Let us know below!