New Whitney Houston Album in the Works

Reuters reports that Whitney Houston will release her first album of original material since 2002. The disc is set to drop later this year on BMG Label Group.

Four songs have been completed for the as-yet-untitled project, and four more will be put to tape later this month, Clive Davis said during Billboard's Music & Money Symposium at New York's St. Regis Hotel.

"We're on track for a holiday release," he added. "We're not going to compromise who she is to fit into today's hip-hop radio market. The public wants Whitney material."

Tracks for the album have been produced or written by Black Eyed Peas singer Will.i.am, producer/songwriter Sean Garrett and R&B singer Akon.

Houston's last album, Just Whitney, debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 in December 2002, and quickly slipped down the rankings. It was her first release since 1998's My Love Is Your Love.