Island Def Jam’s LA Reid is leaving the label to become a judge on the US version of X Factor.
The 54-year-old music mogul has helped the likes of Mariah Carey, Usher, Rihanna, Kanye West and Jay Z to multi-platinum sales success.
Auditions for US X Factor are expected to start on 27 March, with the show due to air in the autumn.
Reid is the first person to be named as a judge on the show.
In a statement Island Def Jam confirmed the news.
“Antonio ‘LA’ Reid has chosen to step down from his position as Chairman and CEO of Island Def Jam in order to participate in the upcoming US premiere of the X Factor,” the statement said.
“We certainly wish him all the best with his new career choice and thank him for his contributions over the last several years.”
The American X Factor organisers made no comment except to say “decisions are still being made on the panel”.
Reid’s appointment comes after weeks of rumours in the British press suggesting Cheryl Cole could be made a judge.
In a message announcing his departure to staff LA Reid said: “I have always thrived on growth and the next great challenge, and I look forward with much enthusiasm to what the future holds.”
“I am extremely proud of our beautiful roster and all we have accomplished in my seven years with IDJ (Island Def Jam).”
Chi Chi Izundu, BBC
i think this was a super silly move for him to do without the big people at def jam forcing him to make this decision to go from the president of def jam to a silly judge on a tv show that could end any day as oppose to sticking with a record company that has been around for 27 yrs lol stupid bastard now if he chose to work as the president at def jam and take on the job as a judge on the tv show as well i could respect that but not this silly decision……….stupid f
Ummm….the guy above me must not read the rumors that seem to pop up at least once a month about Reid getting fired. That’s gotta get pretty old after a while. Maybe he just wants some of that Simon Cowell money. And even if this show does half as well as Idol did at the start of its run, I could be mistaken on this, it would make it the 2nd highest rated show on TV. Plus Reid hasn’t been having great success with Def Jam anyways. Other than Kanye, they seem to be having a hard time selling/marketing their Rap/Hip-Hop stars albums….and even Kanye arguably did more than the label for MBDTF.