Island Def Jam CEO L.A. Reid steps down

Antonio “L.A.” Reid will leave his job as chairman of Island Def Jam to become a judge on Simon Cowell’s upcoming show “The X Factor,” a source familiar with Cowell’s offer confirmed to Billboard Wednesday.
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.
In his frewell letter Reid wrote: “I am extremely proud of our beautiful roster and all we have accomplished in my seven years with IDJ. We continue to have incredible success together with today’s most phenomenal superstars – Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Bon Jovi, Jennifer Lopez, Ne-Yo, Rick Ross, The Killers, The Dream, Chrisette Michele, Jeezy and Ludacris to name a few.”
L.A. Reid had a great influence on Rihanna’s music. It is yet unknown how and if it will affect her career anyway. He was recently quoted by Vogue magazine saying about Rihanna: “She became a star before she became an adult. Her nature is to protect herself.”