JAY Z'S STREAMING VENTURE: THE EQUITY PIECE

With Jay Z offering superstar participants in his proposed streaming company an equity stake in exchange for the use of their brands in establishing it, wonderers are wondering what artist participation might look like—stock, cash and so on—and how much leeway these artists have in licensing their music without the consent of their labels. This varies according to artist contract, naturally, but labels by and large command all right to exploit master recordings in all media (including ones not yet invented). On the other hand, the majors may see an upside in licensing music to such well-capitalized new digital ventures.