L.A. Reid becomes Chairman and CEO of Epic Records

By Mr. Hollywood
JR Staff Writer

After seven years of running Island Def Jam, L.A. Reid abruptly quit. When Reid announced his departure, there were rumors of him leaving for Simon Cowell's "The X Factor." Soon, those rumors proved to be true. However, L.A. Reid said this did not mean he was done with the music industry.

Reid said he would likely go on to establish his own record label and continue signing artists. Only a few months after leaving his role with Island Def Jam, L.A. Reid began doing work for Epic Records. The past few years have been relatively rough on the label and they need leadership.

Doug Morris, the CEO of Sony, announced the decision to make the former Island Def Jam head the new CEO of Epic Records. He credited L.A. Reid's success in the music industry as his inspiration to make him the head of the label. L.A. Reid said he looks forward to making Epic Records the music company of the future, taking them to the next level.

L.A. Reid has been instrumental in the development of several Sony artists, both past and present.