The long-rumored $150 million, 10-year deal between Jay-Z and Live Nation reportedly closed Wednesday night, with Live Nation giving Jay a chunk of stock, $5 million per year for "overhead," $25 million for acquisitions and investments, $10 million an album (for a three-album deal), and $20 million for publishing, licensing, and other rights. Live Nation's stock has jumped sharply since the deal was reportedly closed. [Billboard]
The Guardian "leaked" most of the Glastonbury lineup this morning, and while there are certainly portions that sound very alluring (especially ignoring the logistical issues of actually traveling to an muddy field in the middle of England), it appears American festivals aren't alone in having an off year.
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Now that she's maybe married, Beyonce has decided to retire from performing. Maybe! Beyonce's cousin, Angelica, got her name into the papers by blabbing to a New York Daily News source that B's next album will be her last. Instead of singing, the former Destiny's Child leader will scout out talent for her possibly-husband Jay-Z's The Carter Group, which is rumored to be backed by Live Nation. It's like a Jenga game of half-truths, this item! And I can't help but wonder what all the female artists on Columbia Records who were forced into the fifth-fiddle spot by Beyonce and Solange must think of it, given that any female "talent" within the Knowles' orbit was usually rewarded with pushed-back albums and not-as-forceful promotion. [NY Daily News / Photo: AP]
Registration for tickets to the Glastonbury Festival re-opened today, following relatively sluggish sales since Sunday. In previous years, tickets to the three day British event sold out within hours, but over a fifth of the 137,000 tickets remained unsold after the first day. While some blamed the horrible weather that plagued the Festival over the last three years, others claimed that planned headliner Jay-Z was the cause of the lack of enthusiasm. And you know Hov doesn't appreciate that.
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The New York Times is reporting that Jay-Z and Live Nation are on the verge of agreeing to a $150 million deal that will cover his recordings and tours for the next 10 years, as well as financing for his own venture, which will allegedly be called the Carter Music Group. Once the deal is finalized, Jay will become Live Nation's most highly paid artist, a title that is currently held by Madonna, whose deal with the concert conglomerate comes in at a now-measly-looking $120 million. Earlier rumors claimed that Jay was looking for at least $100 million for the Carter Music Group, with naysayers saying that his pocketing that much money was a impossiblity because "it isn't the '90s anymore." Anyone want to check the calendars in Live Nation's offices? [NYT / Photo: AP]
Put a ring on that finger, you cad! People is reporting that Beyonce and Jay-Z have picked up a wedding license. No response from the long-time lovers—over five years!—but I'm hoping to hear some wedding bells. Or maybe just a verse from Jay-Z that unhesistantly proffers affection rather than a reaffirmation of his glory or the idea that she's the workaholic, not this label exec whose retirement from the game lasted about three years. Treat a lady right, Hov. And now for some potential TomKat-esque tabloid terms we've come up with for the couple:
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Since Jay-Z 
Yes, you read that right: a man named Clive Campbell 
Jay-Z might be starting his own label! He also might be turning into a blonde-haired, blue-eyed teen-pop star. "Now we hear Jay has been huddling with Reid's rival, Warner Music Group head Lyor Cohen, to talk about starting his own label - tentatively called the Carter Music Group. (Jay's real name is Aaron Carter.)" One can only imagine what kind of half-repressed horror stories about his days with Lou Pearlman are keeping Mr. Carter up at night. Let them out, Jay. For B's sake. [NY Daily News via Nah Right / Photo: Getty]
Confirming earlier speculation, Glastonbury organizer Michael Eavis said that Jay-Z would headline this summer's installment of the muddy music festival because he was in the mood to "break with tradition this time and put on something totally different." [BBC]
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So after slogging through hours of Giuliani's justifications for tying with Ron friggin' Paul and McCain supporters chanting "USA! USA!" on MSNBC, I finally gave up and went to bed before the Democratic results were called in New Hampshire, only to wake up this a.m. to learn that, yes, Barry O finished second last night to Hillary C. And after he conceded, he went back to his hotel room and played "Ignorant Shit" a few dozen times while weeping into his pillow. Well, maybe.
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