L.A. Reid may launch New Record Label

By The Music Scoop
JR Staff Writer

Long before he joined Def Jam, L.A. Reid had been a force in the record industry. Had it not been for Reid, many of the legendary hits people enjoy may have never been released. This was one of the reasons Def Jam decided to hire him. With the help of Jay-Z, Reid helped introduce Rihanna and Ne-Yo, among others.

But, when his contract with Def Jam expired, L.A. Reid decided not to renew. Following seven years with Def Jam, Reid opted to sign a deal with Simon Cowell. Reid is now one of the judges for his new series, "The X Factor." While his new gig pays more than Def Jam, it does not mean he is done with music.

During the late 1980s, L.A. Reid helped launch LaFace Records with singer Babyface. The label soon became home to such acts as Usher and TLC. Partnered with Arista Records, LaFace Records released several hits, solidifying L.A. Reid as a force in the music industry. Reid remained with LaFace for fifteen years before he decided to move on to Def Jam.

Now, after seven years at Island Def Jam, L.A. Reid is strongly considering creating a new record label. The label will follow the format of LaFace and what he turned Def Jam into, R&B. Reid reminded the people of who he is and how quickly he can make things happen. L.A. Reid said he is no idiot when it comes to doing business. He has been trying to be in control of his own career, once again, and a new label to go along with his "X Factor" deal may be what he is looking for.