Jay Z's Roc Nation Sports and CAA Part Ways: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

The partnership between Roc Nation Sports, founded by rap star Shawn "Jay Z" Carter, and CAA Sports Agency has ended.

SportBusiness.com reported the news on Wednesday, noting that CAA had put an end to the affiliation that began in 2013.    

Juan Perez, president of Roc Nation Sports, provided more context through an official statement.

"We have had a great relationship with CAA in this short time of two years and are grateful," said Perez. "We are ready to stand on our own. We built Roc Nation Sports into a home for hard-working, dedicated world-class athletes."

Darren Rovell of ESPN conveyed the foundational logic behind the partnership in the first place:

As the report notes, Roc Nation Sports handled the branding side of their clients under the partnership with CAA. That entailed endorsement contracts, marketing and relations with the media. It was on CAA to work out contract negotiations and take control of the business side of professional sports.

Roc Nation Sports boasts high-profile clients such as Dallas Cowboys star receiver Dez Bryant, Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma City Thunder NBA MVP Kevin Durant.

Darren Heitner of Forbes spoke to a Roc Nation Sports spokesperson about the spilt. The spokesman noted how the roles of Roc Nation Sports agent Kim Miale and that of Bryant's agent, Tom Condon, essentially won't change.

"It was a very amicable split," said spokesperson. "It's not like Roc Nation will take Dez Bryant from Tom Condon. Tom will do his thing; Kim Miale will do her thing."

Mark Tenally/Associated Press

This move is quite interesting in light of the fact that CAA handles the contracts. Bryant and Suh are free agents this NFL offseason, and Durant is eligible to hit the open market after the 2015-16 NBA campaign.

Those are arguably the agency's three biggest clients, though as Heitner mentions, they will keep their agents from CAA. It will be the new clients Roc Nation Sports signs that will have to deal with whichever agents Jay Z's company can bring in.

Roc Nation Sports is in uncharted territory, being completely independent. Based on the exposure it's gotten and the big-name clients the agency has brought in, though, this seems like a logical next step in the industry.