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L.A. Reid – former chairman of the Island Def Jam record label and judge on Fox’s upcoming singing-competition series The X-Factor — has landed a new gig as the head of Sony Music’s Epic Label Group, which is set to be restructured to include Jive Records, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sony has yet to respond to requests from EW seeking confirmation.
When he begins in the post after the 4th of July holiday, it will reunite the famed 55-year-old executive with two major artists — Usher and Pink — who he helped discover.
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Read more:
Official: L.A. Reid signed as ‘X-Factor’ judge
Island Def Jam exec L.A. Reid officially resigns: Read his letter to the staff here
I know Usher is happy!
I heard that he was difficult to work with. He`s all about the mighty dollar and the hell with your artistic integrity. That`s probably why he fell out with Babyface and Toni Braxton.
I wanted La’Face records (which L.A. and Babyface ran in the early ’90s) to be around for a long time, like Motown and then they fell apart with the Toni Braxton and TLC money problems and issues. But that aside, it’s good that L.A. has rebounded to be a successful record company executive. I hope he’s successful with Epic Label Group.
He also signed Avril Lavigne and Dido back in the day, he revived Mariah Carey’s career, and he signed Rihanna,Ne-Yo and Kanye West.
L.A. Reid might be hard to work with but he knows his business. His big mistake was letting Lady Gaga go, but I’m not sure I would have signed all that weirdness either. Who could have predicted she’ll go this big?
destroyed Toni Braxton’s career when she wanted kids. plus numerous shady other dealings that are kept hush, hush. warning to anyone who signs a contract with la reid, read the fine print and get outside legal representation.
I think this could be good. I think he is a much better record label exec than Barry Weiss (RCA/Jive Label Group chief until 2011) and Amanda Ghost (Head of Epic records until late last year). I think if the new company is structured in the right way then he can be effective.
That quick after leaving Island Def Jam? L.A. Reid is too valuable to not be on a record label. He has the music experience to guide and direct artists. And I am pleased that he is reuniting with Usher and Pink on the Sony label. He’s also guided and discovered other artists that the article didn’t mention.
What will happen with Chris Browns career…will it be affected in any way? Lets hope not…if it is–I hope it’s for the better.