Los Angeles - Hip-hop artist LL Cool J on Monday introduced Boomdizzle.com, a new joint venture with long-time label Def Jam that offers a promotional platform for aspiring music artists. The ongoing contest will see LL along with a panel of judges selecting a pack of finalists, from which users will vote on to see who gets to record a single with the artist.

New York - Hip-hop artist and impresario Jay-Z is about to close a $150 million deal with concert promoter Live Nation (NYSE: LYV), that will see him leave longtime label Def Jam -- from which he stepped down as president last year -- and form a joint venture that will include recordings, tours, artist management and merchandise, The New York Times reported on Thursday. The deal follows Live Nation's announcement of a touring and merchandise deal with U2 on Monday, and the $120 million contract it signed with Madonna in 2007.

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts on Tuesday announced the release of "Def Jam: Icon" for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A collaboration with hip-hop record label Def Jam, the game features the likenesses of and tracks from artists including Big Boi, Lil Jon, Ludacris and T.I. Separately, EA launched an online music competition wherein consumers can record and upload their own "Simlish" version of Lily Allen's "Smile," sung in the Simlish language featured in its "The Sims" game franchise. The winner will receive the chance to record a song in Simlish for possible inclusion in a future Sims video game.

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts said on Friday that it has signed a worldwide co-publishing deal with Pandemic Studios, for the studio's forthcoming "Mercenaries 2: World in Flames" title for PlayStation 3. Separately, Redwood City, Calif.-based EA announced the track listing for the in-game soundtrack to its "Def Jam: Icon" game collaboration with Universal Music Group's Def Jam Recordings. The game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 will feature a playlist of 29 tracks, from artists including The Game, Nas, Ghostface, Lil Jon, Ludacris and Method Man & Redman. A feature called My Soundtrack for the Xbox 360 version will also allow players to load any MP3 into the game. "Def Jam: Icon" is slated for release on March 6.