After nearly six years as chairman of the company, Antonio Marquis “L.A.” Reid has abruptly left his position at Epic Records, the Sony-owned label to which Future, Travis Scott, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and more are signed to.
Though he is now considered one of the most influential veteran executives (who’s worth around $300 million USD), his ascension in rank in the music business started at a much earlier time. He founded his first record label LaFace Records in 1989. The imprint helped break the careers of artists like Usher, TLC and Pink. Since then, his guidance has lead to a diamond-certified album Confessions from his artist Usher, and the first ever rap album to win Album of the Year at the Grammys (OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below). He also previously held a chairman position at The Island Def Jam Music Group, which he vacated for Epic Records in July 2011.
It is unclear where Reid is off to next. For more on this story, visit Variety.