David Bowie: Pioneered bonds based on an artist's royalties

There has also been the $30m 'Motown bond', backed by the royalties from 300 songs written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland.

They were the men behind classics like The Supremes' Stop! In The Name Of Love and You Can't Hurry Love.

Songwriting duo Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson managed to cash in their bonds to the tune of �30m as well, as did heavy metal act Iron Maiden.

Any deal would mean Brown can use the money generated by his four-decade-long recording career now, rather than wait years for his royalties to come in.

David Pullman, one of the advisors behind the 'Bowie bonds', confirmed he was being retained by Brown and he said the singer may use the royalties to invest in the booming US stock market.

"He will be investing with top world-class money managers. He will reinvest money in the stock market," he said.