Who Destroyed Epic Records?

10:29 AM PST 11/18/2010 by Shirley Halperin

Fired after just 20 months at the helm of Epic and tagged with destroying the label, one source tells THR that job "was a no-win situation" for the career songwriter.

It started outlike any label showcase at October's CMJ, the five-night music conference that's been held every year since 1980, drawing hundreds of industry professionals, influencers, fans and upstart bands to New York City's clubs, all looking to find -- or become -- the next big thing. A few dozen T-shirt-and-jeans-clad college reps gathered on the Bowery, next to the space that used to house legendary punk club CBGB, and Augustana, the latest pop-rock priority on Epic Records, prepared to take the stage. Guitar techs finished tuning, the sound guy prepped the board, and band members mingled then made their way toward the front -- excited if not a little anxious.