The "X Factor" judge and seasoned music executive has yet to be formally announced as the new head of Epic Label Group, but he's already mulling big ideas, like what it would take to bring Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez back into the Sony fold.
Doug Morris has yet to actually occupy his newly minted seat as CEO of Sony Music Entertainment (word is he's in Europe until the 15th), but he's made his presence known via an introductory memo sent to staff on July 6 promising to "begin a new and important chapter in the history of our great company."
Conversely, new Epic Label Group head Antonio "L.A." Reid has been almost a regular fixture around the halls of midtown Manhattan's 550 Madison Ave., but as of end of day Monday July 11, a formal announcement of his arrival had yet to be made.
That's not to say Reid didn't have a busy first week. The longtime record executive, who left Island Def Jam in March to join Simon Cowell's The X Factor as a judge, has been tending to the decor of his office, which will no doubt incorporate the warm colors and clean lines that adorned his previous suites, taking meetings and getting "his people" situated, however unofficially, according to a Sony insider.
And there's already been talk of big plans, like possibly bringing Mariah Carey (a Columbia artist from 1990 to 1999) and Jennifer Lopez (signed in 1999, "parted ways" with Epic in 2010) back into the Sony fold. Both were among Reid's pet projects at IDJ, the former selling upwards of seven million albums under his watch, and the latter riding a comeback wave that began with her RedOne-produced single, "On The Floor" (a judging gig on American Idol didn't hurt).
Of course, getting these pop divas out of their respective deals would likely prove a tricky endeavor, but not an impossible one. After all, Morris' post-Universal Music Group "no poaching" clause applies to staff, not artists, although where the former is concerned, there are plenty of Reid loyalists eager to make the jump to Epic.
(Hollywood Reporter)
No comments:
Post a Comment