New York - Concert promoter Live Nation (NYSE: LYV), which has paid millions for the touring and recording rights to artists including Madonna, Jay-Z and Shakira, is considering outsourcing the recording of albums to one or more of the major labels, The New York Post reported, citing sources inside the company.

Los Angeles - After reports of tension in the executive ranks at concert promotion giant Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) -- over the company's recent spate of multi-million dollar "360 deals" with artists including Madonna and Jay-Z, the company announced on Friday that chairman Michael Cohl, also CEO of the company's Live Nation Artists division, has stepped down and resigned his seat on the company's board, effective immediately. The Wall Street Journal had recently reported that Cohl, a veteran concert promoter who had pushed the company to quickly sign additional 360 deals, had threatened to quit, facing opposition from CEO Michael Rapino, who favored a more gradual expansion of the deals.

New York - Top executives at concert promoter Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) have been fiercely at odds over the company's moves to sign an increasing number of multi-million dollar "360 deals" with artists such as Madonna and Jay-Z, The Wall Street Journal reports.