L.A. Reid Ditches Def Jam For Shot At TV Stardom

Universal Music label boss Antonio "L.A." Reid is hip-hopping to TV. The chairman of Universal's Island Def Jam will leave to become a judge on Simon Cowell's upcoming Fox TV show "The X-Factor," according to people familiar with discussions. News Corp. owns Fox and The Post. Reid, who has been angling for an exit from Universal for months in order to pursue other interests, got his wish this week when the show's producers made him a firm offer. Universal agreed to let Reid out of his contract, which expires at the end of the year. Reid has shepherded acts such as Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi and Justin Bieber in his six years with the label. (New York Post)

Plans to replace Reid have already been set into motion.

Island Def Jam will continue to be run by Steve Bartels. Barry Weiss, the former Sony Music executive joining Universal Music Group this month, is expected to add oversight of Island Def Jam to his duties. The question remains, however, whether Reid will eventually join his former Universal boss Doug Morris, who becomes CEO of Sony Music on July 1. Sony Music has vested interest in the competition: Recordings of the show's contestants will be controlled by Simon Cowell's Syco and Sony Music and the winner will receive a $5 million contract with Sony Music. Auditions begin March 27 in Los Angeles. (Billboard)

Last September, rumors claimed Reid was terminated from his position.

Record executive LA Reid during his tenure at Island Def Jam was responsible for heading over mega acts like Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Pink and Justin Bieber. Despite the fact that theseartists are huge on popular consciousness, LA Reid still hasn't been able to pull off any super sales. So... according to information on the entertainment wire, LA Reid got LET GO: "Def Jam fired L.A. Reid," the source tells us. "He got the boot from the Board of Execs yesterday." (Dime Wars)