Reid named chairman of Island Def Jam
Reid to Island Def Jam
Feb 11, 2004
Former Arista chief Antonio "L.A." Reid has been named chairman of the Island Def Jam Music Group, it was announced Tuesday. The move was expected (HR 1/14).
Reid, who exited from Arista last month, replaces Lyor Cohen, who left his Island Def Jam post to take the reins of Warner Music Group's U.S. Recorded Music unit (HR 1/26).
Reid will report to UMG chairman and CEO Doug Morris and president Zach Horowitz. Though his appointment is effective Thursday, Reid introduced himself to Island Def Jam troops on Tuesday.
In an interivew, Reid said: "I don't know what I'm going to do with the company yet, except commit myself to music, stars and songs and try to do the best we can do carry these amazing brands forward and create some new ones. I'm just diving in and I'm going to do what I do. I have to find some hot artists with some hot songs and promote and market then as best possible. That's my commitment. I don't want to come in and focus on anything except music."
It remains unclear whether Island Records president Julie Greenwald, a Cohen appointee, will stay with the company. Her contract is up for negotiation. Cohen's other lieutenant, Def Jam president Kevin Liles, resigned from his post last week (HR 2/6).
Reid's sudden exit from Arista came on the heels of a hits streak for the label with such acts as OutKast, Pink, Avril Lavigne and Sarah McLachlan. OutKast, who picked up three Grammy Awards on Sunday, including the coveted album of the year for "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," dragged Reid onto the stage during the ceremony to thank him for giving them "creative freedom" to make the hit album. Reid's Arista exit preceded rival Clive Davis' appointment to head of BMG North America. Davis founded Arista in 1974.
"(Reid) is a multidimensional music man and entrepreneur whose hallmarks have been a deep love of music and an incredibly successful track record in building the careers of world-class artists," Morris said. "I am confident that we will have a smooth transition and begin a new era of growth and excitement for Island Def Jam."
Reid, a former drummer and Grammy-winning producer, founded the successful Atlanta-based LaFace Records with partner Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds in 1989 with a distribution deal with Arista. LaFace spawned such noteworthy acts as TLC, Toni Braxton, Usher, OutKast and Pink as well as ventures with Sean Combs for Bad Boy Records and Dallas Austin for Rowdy Records.
Reid's ascension to the Arista throne in May 2000 was mired in controversy. But after a rocky first year, he landed success by signing Canadian rocker Lavigne and allowing Pink to transition from R&B to rock. Since Davis' BMG promotion, Arista once again falls under his supervision.
Reid, who exited from Arista last month, replaces Lyor Cohen, who left his Island Def Jam post to take the reins of Warner Music Group's U.S. Recorded Music unit (HR 1/26).
Reid will report to UMG chairman and CEO Doug Morris and president Zach Horowitz. Though his appointment is effective Thursday, Reid introduced himself to Island Def Jam troops on Tuesday.
In an interivew, Reid said: "I don't know what I'm going to do with the company yet, except commit myself to music, stars and songs and try to do the best we can do carry these amazing brands forward and create some new ones. I'm just diving in and I'm going to do what I do. I have to find some hot artists with some hot songs and promote and market then as best possible. That's my commitment. I don't want to come in and focus on anything except music."
It remains unclear whether Island Records president Julie Greenwald, a Cohen appointee, will stay with the company. Her contract is up for negotiation. Cohen's other lieutenant, Def Jam president Kevin Liles, resigned from his post last week (HR 2/6).
Reid's sudden exit from Arista came on the heels of a hits streak for the label with such acts as OutKast, Pink, Avril Lavigne and Sarah McLachlan. OutKast, who picked up three Grammy Awards on Sunday, including the coveted album of the year for "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," dragged Reid onto the stage during the ceremony to thank him for giving them "creative freedom" to make the hit album. Reid's Arista exit preceded rival Clive Davis' appointment to head of BMG North America. Davis founded Arista in 1974.
"(Reid) is a multidimensional music man and entrepreneur whose hallmarks have been a deep love of music and an incredibly successful track record in building the careers of world-class artists," Morris said. "I am confident that we will have a smooth transition and begin a new era of growth and excitement for Island Def Jam."
Reid, a former drummer and Grammy-winning producer, founded the successful Atlanta-based LaFace Records with partner Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds in 1989 with a distribution deal with Arista. LaFace spawned such noteworthy acts as TLC, Toni Braxton, Usher, OutKast and Pink as well as ventures with Sean Combs for Bad Boy Records and Dallas Austin for Rowdy Records.
Reid's ascension to the Arista throne in May 2000 was mired in controversy. But after a rocky first year, he landed success by signing Canadian rocker Lavigne and allowing Pink to transition from R&B to rock. Since Davis' BMG promotion, Arista once again falls under his supervision.
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