The websites of celebrity magazines People and Us Weekly reported the couple married and threw a lavish but small party at the apartment Friday, citing unnamed sources who are friends with the pair. The websites reported that their families attended the party.

Rumours circulated all week about the event after a report that the couple had taken out a marriage licence in Scarsdale, NY Representatives for Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z declined to comment on reports ahead of the event. Jay-Z's publicist had no comment Saturday.

The couple, who have apparently been dating for six years, have never publicly acknowledged they are together. Knowles, 26, and Jay-Z, 38, whose real name is Shawn Carter, have collaborated on the songs 03 Bonnie and Clyde and Crazy In Love.

It's been a big week for the hip-hop mogul. On Thursday, concert promoter Live Nation Inc said it was in talks with Jay-Z over a potential business deal. The Los Angeles-based company stopped short of confirming published reports that the deal would give Live Nation a stake in virtually every aspect of Jay-Z's career and land him a potential windfall in excess of US$100 million.

A person familiar with the negotiations between Live Nation and Jay-Z told The Associated Press that the proposed 10-year deal was worth about US$150 million and would cover three albums.

The person requested anonymity because of the confidential nature of the ongoing talks.