Apparently, Jay-z has signed on with LiveNation for meal ticket.

Two quotes sum up this whole thing to me.

The overall package for Jay-Z also includes an upfront payment of $25 million, a general advance of $25 million that includes fees for his current tour, and advance payment of $10 million an album for a minimum of three albums during the deal’s 10-year term, these people said. A series of other payments adding up to about $20 million is included in exchange for certain publishing, licensing and other rights. Jay-Z said Live Nation’s consolidated approach was in sync with the emerging potential “to reach the consumer in so many different ways right now.” He added: “Everyone’s trying to figure it out. I want to be on the front lines in that fight.”

“I’ve turned into the Rolling Stones of hip-hop,” Jay-Z said in a recent telephone interview.

Completely random thoughts after reading this…

– Breaking the mold, Jay did what we’ve been saying for years – artists should aim to tour & get that real money from doing shows & tours. In it’s essence, Jay aligned himself with a concert promoter, and not another major record label, to move himself as a product & all things Jay-z. Question one is…

– …Can it be successful?

That will be seen. But if you’ve tried to buy tickets for his current tour with MJB or noticed the eBay prices, you will definitely see that a demand is there.

– The question is can one of hip-hop’s biggest names make the move from being a big-selling studio artists to being a big-name touring draw. Other genres have theirs but hip-hop doesn’t exactly have a top-tier artist who owns the road. Yes, groups like LB & The Roots tour constantly but I wouldn’t call them our top-tier & the crowds aren’t on the level of other genres touring bands – EW&F, Zeppelin, The Stones, etc.

And Parrotheads.

I’ve literally seen these fans form a car line over eight miles, starting @ roughly 3pm…for a 9pm show.

Not to say he will cultivate that type of following, but if any artist(s) could, I’d place a wager on Hov. Hey, he hasn’t lost @ too many things yet.

– It was help cure Jay’s restless leg syndrome. He’s seemingly never content with being stagnant artistically and perhaps not best suited for a desk job. With this, he could satisfy his jones to make music, relive his older music & to write checks as well because…

– “As part of the arrangement, Live Nation would finance the start-up of a venture that would be an umbrella for his outside projects, which are expected to include his own label, music publishing, and talent consulting and managing.”

Thank god they’ve included “talent consulting” but I digress.

In other words, Jay got his own label. Without Dame. Without Lyor. Without a major label backing him. And without removing a dime from his pocket. Not that it matters because…

– …Even if the shit flops miserably…Shawn Corey got $25 mil up front. Which I guess was…

– …Enough to push him to go ahead & pop the question, thus making an honest woman out of Yawnsay.

– Anybody want to guess what that last studio album for Def Jam might be?

For now, let us just take our hats off to Jay & sing along.

Jay-z – Ain’t I (Prod. By Timbaland) (Dirty/No DJ/CDQ/Full)

Jay-Z Deal Offers New Model for Music Sales [NYTimes]

Beyonce And Jay-Z Take Out Marriage License [People]