JAY-Z is on the verge of a deal with concert promoter Live Nation worth about US$150 million that rivals the biggest music contracts ever, The New York Times reported on its Web site Wednesday.

Jay-Z was said to be planning to leave his longtime record label, Def Jam, for a package with Live Nation, which includes financing his own entertainment venture as well as recordings and tours over the next decade.

The deal, which sources told the newspaper should be finalized this week, comes after Live Nation earlier this week announced a 12-year agreement to handle the merchandising, digital and branding rights and touring of Irish group U2.

Live Nation, which unveiled a US$120 million deal with Madonna five months ago, has been expanding its business model to develop more far-reaching and deeper relationships with artists beyond just handling their touring as CD sales plunge.

Like many other performers, Jay-Z — whose real name is Shawn Carter — has seen his record sales fall but he has also pursued other business ventures such as a clothing line, Rocawear, which he sold last year for US$204 million, and a chain of 40/40 nightclubs.

This has kept him at the top of Forbes magazine’s annual list of “Hip-Hop Cash Kings” with estimated earnings of US$34 million in 2006.

The New York Times said the deal with Live Nation would involve the concert promoter funding a start-up of a venture called Roc Nation that would be an umbrella for the rapper’s outside projects which are expected to include his own label, music publishing, and talent consulting and managing.

The venture would split profits with Jay-Z.

Jay-Z, 38, last year stepped down as president of Def Jam Records, saying he wanted to “take on new challenges.”

(SD-Agencies)