Lady Gaga rush-releases 'Applause' after series of online leaks

The track wasn't due for release until next week

The cover of Lady Gaga's new single 'Applause' (Inez + Vinoodh/ littlemonsters.com)

Lady Gaga has rushed out her highly anticipated new single after a series of online leaks.

"Applause" is the lead single from the upcoming album ARTPOP, and wasn't due for release until 19 August, with the LP to follow in November.

When the leaks surfaced, Gaga encouraged her fans - the so-called "Little Monsters" - to report sites which were spoiling her big reveal.

But then the choppy, synthy track was rush-released to radio stations and Apple's iTunes Store. Gaga tweeted:

The unplanned release followed the strategy taken by Katy Perry when her new track, "Roar", leaked online on Saturday. It wasn't due for release until two days later.

Gaga has also promised a smartphone and tablet app accompanying the album, enabling fans to download extra videos, music, chat options and games.

The controversial pop diva described the app as a “musical and visual engineering system that combines music, art, fashion, and technology with a new interactive worldwide community - the auras”.

It’s creation follows the promise of a "multimedia experience" the star made to fans last year.

"Artpop" will be Lady Gaga's third album, following her debut "The Fame" and "Born This Way". Both the album and app will be available to pre-order from 1 September.