Live Nation will bring $5 million in seed money annually for Jay-Z own label Roc Nation, publishing arm and management company, with significantly more funds available for future acquisitions and expansion. He will also receive a $25 million upfront payment and $10 million per album for a minimum of three albums over the next decade.

This deal would give Live Nation a stake in everything from his music to his music-related business for 10 years.

Jay himself sees the deal as a way "to reach the consumer in so many different ways right now. Everyone’s trying to figure it out. I want to be on the front lines in that fight," he said.

"In a way I want to operate like an indie band," he said. "Play the music on tour instead of relying on radio. Hopefully we’ll get some hits out of there and radio will pick it up, but we won’t make it with that in mind."

You know Jay-Z is a clever business man : despite the stagnation of record sales, the concert industry keeps booming. Last year revenues were up 8% to $3.9 billion, and Live Nation is in perfect position to expand its market share.

Live Nation recently announced a 10 year deal with Madonna, while U2 revealed a 12 year touring and merchandising partnership earlier this week.

But the Jay-Z deal is a major coup for Live Nation. He is not only one of the world’s top-selling rappers and concert draws, he’s also a former record company president who decides that "it’s really about trying to invest in the future, trying to invest in maybe coming up with a new model, because going in hard making records with artists and throwing those records into a system that’s flawed is not exciting for me".