Will L.A.Reid Bring Over Mariah, JLo, Pink And Ciara To The Epic Label Group?

That's what buzzing around the music industry right now!

Although it hasn't officially been announced that Antonio "L.A." Reid is the new Epic Label Group head, he has been almost a regular fixture around the halls of the Sony Music Entertainment building as of late.

L.A. Reid is known for his powerful influence in the music industry from being an A&R to most recently leaving Island Def Jam in March to join Simon Cowell’s The X Factor as a judge. And now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Mr Reid will try his hardest and use his influence to bring over the likes of Mariah, JLo, Pink, Ciara and even Usher to the Epic Label Group. 

......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 Island Def Jam, 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). Also worth noting: Lopez’s manager Benny Medina is a close friend of Reid’s. And, of course, there have been persistent rumors of Carey appearing on X Factor in some sort of mentoring capacity. 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’ (Doug Morris - CEO of Sony Music Entertainment) 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. At the same time, Jive-RCA staffers are eyeing Barry Weiss' fiefdom over at Island Def Jam-Universal Motown Republic Group, as the industry continues its seemingly endless game of musical chairs. To that end, earlier chatter of certain multi-platinum artists heading Reid’s way may have been premature. It looks as if RCA will inherit the bulk of Jive’s marquee artists, including Pink (who was discovered and mentored by Reid) and Britney Spears, while Reid will be handed Ciara and, according to a source, “take care of Usher.”

Innneresting shake-up in the music industry coming our way.