GOSSIP: L.A. Reid to snag Ciara, Usher, & Mariah Carey over at EPIC

Antonio “L.A.” Reid quietly began his new job as head of Epic Label Group earlier this month. The music mogul is assembling his roster of talent, which may include Ciara and Usher.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ciara will reunite with her former boss at his new venture at Sony. She asked to be released from her contract with Jive earlier this year after the underwhelming performance of her latest album Basic Instinct.

Another one of Reid’s discoveries, Usher, may also be making the shift from Jive to the restructured Epic. Reid was instrumental in launching the R&B phenom’s career 17 years ago.

Additionally, there is chatter that the 55-year-old executive is trying to bring Mariah Carey to Sony from her current home at Island Def Jam. She released her comeback album The Emancipation of Mimi under Reid’s watch and was previously signed to Columbia Records.

Another diva, Jennifer Lopez, may also return to Epic with the “X Factor” judge. She left the label last year to join Reid at Island Def Jam, where she released her album LOVE? and scored the chart-topping hit “On the Floor.”

{Source}

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FIRST ROUND AUDITIONS FOR FOX'S 'THE X FACTOR': SIMON COWELL, PAULA ABDUL, BENNY MEDINA, L.A. REID, CHERYL COLE



Singer Cheryl Cole arrives at the first round of auditions for Fox's "The X Factor" at Galen Center on May 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.



Producer Simon Cowell arrives at the first round of auditions for Fox's "The X Factor" at Galen Center on May 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.


The most anticipated new TV series of 2011 really kicked off on Sunday as the four "X Factor" judges -- Simon Cowell, singer Cheryl Cole, record-label exec L.A. Reid, Benny Medina, and Paula Abdul -- gathered to audition wannabe superstars in downtown Los Angeles.
Before the judges stepped onto the stage of the Galen Center on the campus of the University of Southern California, the show's hosts, former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and British TV personality Steve Jones, introduced themselves to the audience. R&B songstress Monica is also slated to join the list of judges. Check out more pics below. Will you be tuning in?

Record producer L.A. Reid arrives at the first round of auditions for Fox's "The X Factor" at Galen Center on May 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Singer/dancer Paula Abdul arrives at the first round of auditions for Fox's "The X Factor" at Galen Center on May 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Producer/manager Benny Medina arrives at the first round of auditions for Fox's "The X Factor" at Galen Center on May 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

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Clive Davis 2013 Pre-GRAMMY Gala: Brandy, Jill Scott, John Mayer, Janelle Monae, Sting, Jennifer Hudson, Ciara, Wiz Khalifa, John Legend, Ashanti & MORE

Presented by Clive Davis and The Recording Academy, the ninth Pre-Grammy Gala, guests heard moving tributes to the evening’s special honoree, Epic chairman/CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid and were treated to a series of knockout performances by Patti Smith, the Lumineers, Usher, Miguel, Emeli Sande and capped by a duet featuring Jennifer Hudson and the legendary Gladys Knight.

Check out more pics from the event below!!!

 

Jennifer Hudson & Clive Davis

Brandy

Jill Scott

Natasha Beddingfield

Nicole Richie

Katy Perry

Jordin Sparks

Estelle

Janelle Monae

Kelsey Grammer

Sting

Wiz Khalifa

Ciara & Future

L.A. Reid

Tyra Banks

Ashanti

John Mayer

Gladys Knight

Melissa & Joan Rivers

Miley Cyrus

Carly Rae Jepsen

Chrissy Teigen & John Legend

Quincy Jones

Randy Jackson & Ryan Seacrest

Kathy Griffin

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Remembering Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes

In an era when being as bold as you wanna be can be good for business, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, one-rebellious-third of the iconic girl group TLC, might not have seemed like an anomaly among the Rihannas, Katys and Britneys.

 But back in the early 1990s, you were bound to arch a few eyebrows if your thing was to rock condoms as eye patches and spit verses like, "If I need it in the morning or the middle of the night, I ain't too proud to beg." 

Philadelphia-born, Lisa was just barely out of her teens in 1991, when she joined a trio under the direction of manager Perri "Pebbles" Reid, an R&B singer herself and then-wife of LaFace Records co-founder Antonio "LA" Reid. Left Eye, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas would release their debut album, Ooooooohhh ... On the TLC Tip, the following year.

With ups and downs along the way...April 25, 2002, Lisa Lopes was tragically lost in an automobile accident in Honduras, just a few weeks shy of her 31st birthday while filming a documentary. At the time, Lopes had been working with David Bowie on a solo project under the psuedonym N.I.N.A. Her charitable organization, the Lisa Lopes Foundation, continues to support youth from low income communities and diverse cultural backgrounds.

As we celibrate her legacy take a look at her talent in action in her last music video 'Block Party'

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Russell Simmons’ 12th Annual Art for Life Benefit

Jennifer Hudson brought the house down for a good cause. The Grammy-winning singer lent her powerful pipes to Russell Simmons’ 12th Annual Art for Life Benefit at the music mogul’s estate in the Hamptons on Saturday. The Def Jam founder was joined by his ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons, brothers Rev Run and Danny Simmons, nieces Angela and Vanessa Simmons, and the rest of his family. VIPs including Mary J. Blige, Taraji P. Henson, and L.A. Reid bid on unique items to help raise money for his non-profit organization and Miri Ben-Ari entertained guests by playing the violin. 

CHECK OUT MORE HOT SHOTS BELOW FROM THE GREAT EVENT!!!

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