Big Business: Major Deals in Music

Jay Z's move into music streaming and other power plays.

Jay Z Enters the Music Streaming Game  - Hov just made another stride in becoming “The Billion Dollar Man.” It’s been announced that he is buying a Scandinavian music streaming company for $56 million. Project Panther Bidco Ltd, a company controlled by Jay Z, revealed the deal with Aspiro, which includes their services WiMP and TIDAL.Read on for more of power plays made by some of music's top stars.— BET Staff and Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyéé)(Photos from left: Larry Busacca/Getty Images, WIMP)

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Jay Z Enters the Music Streaming Game  - Hov just made another stride in becoming “The Billion Dollar Man.” It’s been announced that he is buying a Scandinavian music streaming company for $56 million. Project Panther Bidco Ltd, a company controlled by Jay Z, revealed the deal with Aspiro, which includes their services WiMP and TIDAL.Read on for more of power plays made by some of music's top stars.— BET Staff and Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyéé)(Photos from left: Larry Busacca/Getty Images, WIMP)

Tyga, @Tyga - Tweet: "Watchin my mom on Jimmey Kimmel. Haha ‪http://shots.com/p/tu1iaxdx "Tyga gets a few laughs off his mom's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's "Words From Your Mother" segment. She recited lyrics from the Young Money star's strip club anthem "Rack City." #FunnyStuff(Photo: Daniel Tanner/WENN.com)

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Tyga x Shine Papers - It looks like Tyga is preparing his exit strategy from Cash Money and just beefed up his stock portfolio. The L.A. emcee has signed on to become the face of Shine Papers as well as creative director for new projects in a deal worth $5 million. Shine Papers exploded onto the marketplace last year, with the invention of 24K-gold rolling papers and tattooed blunts. (Photo: Daniel Tanner/WENN.com)

Jay Z x Armand de Brignac - After kicking Cristal to the curb some years back, Jay Z put another champagne at the top of the heap when he started endorsing Ace of Spades. Now in true Hov fashion, he's purchased the Armand de Brignac company that produces the pricey $300 and up/bottle spirit for an undisclosed amount.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

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Jay Z x Armand de Brignac - After kicking Cristal to the curb some years back, Jay Z put another champagne at the top of the heap when he started endorsing Ace of Spades. Now in true Hov fashion, he's purchased the Armand de Brignac company that produces the pricey $300 and up/bottle spirit for an undisclosed amount.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

50 Cent x Intel - 50 Cent merged his passions for music and fitness when his SMS Audio began building Intel-powered biometric headphones. BioSport In-Ear buds connect to your cell phone and process software that gives you your heart rate and counts your steps.(Photo: WENN)

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50 Cent x Intel - 50 Cent merged his passions for music and fitness when his SMS Audio began building Intel-powered biometric headphones. BioSport In-Ear buds connect to your cell phone and process software that gives you your heart rate and counts your steps.(Photo: WENN)

Photo By Photo: WENN

Beats x Apple - On May 28, Apple confirmed its acquisition of Beats by Dre for a cool $3 billion. In addition to the big payout, Dr. Dre and his business partner, Jimmy lovine, were also offered executive positions with Apple's music division.(Photos from Left: Beats by Dre, Apple)

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Beats x Apple - On May 28, Apple confirmed its acquisition of Beats by Dre for a cool $3 billion. In addition to the big payout, Dr. Dre and his business partner, Jimmy lovine, were also offered executive positions with Apple's music division.(Photos from Left: Beats by Dre, Apple)

Photo By Photos from left: Beats by Dre

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Janet Jackson x Virgin Records - Over the course of her career, Janet Jackson made ground breaking multi-million dollar deals with Virgin Records. After the release of Rhythm Nation 1814, her contract with A&M Records expired. But in 1992, the Grammy Award-winning pop icon signed an unprecedented $40 million contract with Virgin, making it the largest in music history. Ms. Jackson outdid herself four years later when she sealed an $80 million deal with Virgin, topping Michael Jackson's $60 million contract cap.(Photo: Michel Linssen/Redferns)

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Janet Jackson x Virgin Records - Over the course of her career, Janet Jackson made ground breaking multi-million dollar deals with Virgin Records. After the release of Rhythm Nation 1814, her contract with A&M Records expired. But in 1992, the Grammy Award-winning pop icon signed an unprecedented $40 million contract with Virgin, making it the largest in music history. Ms. Jackson outdid herself four years later when she sealed an $80 million deal with Virgin, topping Michael Jackson's $60 million contract cap.(Photo: Michel Linssen/Redferns)

Jay Z x Live Nation - Jay Z signed a $150 million dollar 10-year deal with the concert-promotion powerhouse Live Nation in 2008. The deal, which rocked the music industry as it illustrated a shift in control from the label to the artist, was the first of many colossal deals to come. In 2013, for example, he changed the rules with a record-breaking Samsung deal for the App release of Magna Carta Holy Grail, an agreement with Universal that makes Roc Nation a stand-alone label (á la Def Jam or Columbia), and the launching of Roc Nation Sports.(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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Jay Z x Live Nation - Jay Z signed a $150 million dollar 10-year deal with the concert-promotion powerhouse Live Nation in 2008. The deal, which rocked the music industry as it illustrated a shift in control from the label to the artist, was the first of many colossal deals to come. In 2013, for example, he changed the rules with a record-breaking Samsung deal for the App release of Magna Carta Holy Grail, an agreement with Universal that makes Roc Nation a stand-alone label (á la Def Jam or Columbia), and the launching of Roc Nation Sports.(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

50 Cent x Vitamin Water - When 50 Cent announced that he was teaming up with Vitamin Water to form his Formula 50 drink, Vitamin Water was an "exclusive" beverage found in health food stores in specific communities. But 50 invested in the brand and both his career and Vitamin Water’s skyrocketed, eventually earning the G-Unit boss a cool $100 million, after taxes.(Photo: Glaceau/Vitamin Water)

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50 Cent x Vitamin Water - When 50 Cent announced that he was teaming up with Vitamin Water to form his Formula 50 drink, Vitamin Water was an "exclusive" beverage found in health food stores in specific communities. But 50 invested in the brand and both his career and Vitamin Water’s skyrocketed, eventually earning the G-Unit boss a cool $100 million, after taxes.(Photo: Glaceau/Vitamin Water)

Beyoncé x Pepsi - They don’t call her Queen Bey for nothing. Beyoncé already worked with Pepsi in 2002, but the "Partition" singer inked her biggest deal with the soft drink company in 2012. The $50 million deal, which kicked off with an iconic half-time performance at Super Bowl XLVII, included Bey's face on limited edition soda cans, a commercial featuring new music, plus more.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

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Beyoncé x Pepsi - They don’t call her Queen Bey for nothing. Beyoncé already worked with Pepsi in 2002, but the "Partition" singer inked her biggest deal with the soft drink company in 2012. The $50 million deal, which kicked off with an iconic half-time performance at Super Bowl XLVII, included Bey's face on limited edition soda cans, a commercial featuring new music, plus more.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Photo By Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Cash Money x Universal - When Birdman and his Slim founded Cash Money, there was certainly an emphasis on the word "money." The New Orleans duo got the attention of Universal Records and shocked the music industry in the late '90s when they signed a reported $30 million pressing and distribution deal with the mega label (Baby says it was actually more). The multi-million dollar deal made Cash Money a force to be reckoned with in the biz, especially since the label was able to keep it's own masters and publishing.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

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Cash Money x Universal - When Birdman and his Slim founded Cash Money, there was certainly an emphasis on the word "money." The New Orleans duo got the attention of Universal Records and shocked the music industry in the late '90s when they signed a reported $30 million pressing and distribution deal with the mega label (Baby says it was actually more). The multi-million dollar deal made Cash Money a force to be reckoned with in the biz, especially since the label was able to keep it's own masters and publishing.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

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No Limit x Priority Records - There was no limit for Master P after he inked an unprecedented deal with gangsta rap label Priority Records in 1996. Under the terms on his agreement, P retained 100 percent ownership of his masters, which earned him 85 percent on record sales to Priority's 15 percent. The deal turned P into a millionaire and confirmed the opening lyrics on his 99 Ways to Die album, ''I'm not just your everyday rapper, I'm an entrepreneur.''(Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)

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No Limit x Priority Records - There was no limit for Master P after he inked an unprecedented deal with gangsta rap label Priority Records in 1996. Under the terms on his agreement, P retained 100 percent ownership of his masters, which earned him 85 percent on record sales to Priority's 15 percent. The deal turned P into a millionaire and confirmed the opening lyrics on his 99 Ways to Die album, ''I'm not just your everyday rapper, I'm an entrepreneur.''(Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)

Diddy x Revolt and Time Warner - Diddy inked one of his biggest and most unique deals in music in 2013. In conjunction with Time Warner Cable, Diddy launched Revolt TV, the only 24-hour music-themed cable network. While the vision for Revolt TV originated from Comcast's diversity program, Diddy made Revolt his own by encompassing lessons from the likes of Oprah, BET founder Robert "Bob" Johnson, and MTV. He also maintains a 50 percent stake in the venture, which helped boost his net worth to some $700 million.(Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for REVOLT TV)

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Diddy x Revolt and Time Warner - Diddy inked one of his biggest and most unique deals in music in 2013. In conjunction with Time Warner Cable, Diddy launched Revolt TV, the only 24-hour music-themed cable network. While the vision for Revolt TV originated from Comcast's diversity program, Diddy made Revolt his own by encompassing lessons from the likes of Oprah, BET founder Robert "Bob" Johnson, and MTV. He also maintains a 50 percent stake in the venture, which helped boost his net worth to some $700 million.(Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for REVOLT TV)

Prince x Warner Bros. Records - The "Purple One" turned green when he signed a $100 million deal with Warner Bros. Records in 1992. Prince became the highest paid pop artist in the industry, receiving $10 million per album, in addition to becoming an executive of two of his own labels with the deal.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel)

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Prince x Warner Bros. Records - The "Purple One" turned green when he signed a $100 million deal with Warner Bros. Records in 1992. Prince became the highest paid pop artist in the industry, receiving $10 million per album, in addition to becoming an executive of two of his own labels with the deal.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel)

Michael Jackson x ATV Music Publishing - When Michael Jackson learned the value of music pubishing, he changed the game and began acquiring catalogues that "meant something to him," like Sly & the Family Stone songs. He eventually acquired ATV Music Publishing, sold to MJ in 1985 for $47.5 million, and giving him ownership of, most significantly, a bunch of the Beatles' songs, which ruffled the feathers of fellow pop royal Paul McCartney. MJ held on to the share, however, allowing a merger with his label home, Sony. Another merger later (with EMI), the company is now the largest music publishing house in the world, and his estate still rakes in cash from it.(Photo: Havakuk Levison/Reuters)

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Michael Jackson x ATV Music Publishing - When Michael Jackson learned the value of music pubishing, he changed the game and began acquiring catalogues that "meant something to him," like Sly & the Family Stone songs. He eventually acquired ATV Music Publishing, sold to MJ in 1985 for $47.5 million, and giving him ownership of, most significantly, a bunch of the Beatles' songs, which ruffled the feathers of fellow pop royal Paul McCartney. MJ held on to the share, however, allowing a merger with his label home, Sony. Another merger later (with EMI), the company is now the largest music publishing house in the world, and his estate still rakes in cash from it.(Photo: Havakuk Levison/Reuters)