L.A Reid has sold 100% of publishing interests and writer’s share of income in his music catalog, comprising 162 songs, to Hipgnosis Songs Fund.
In addition, Reid is joining the Advisory Board of The Family (Music) Limited – the related company established by Merck Mercuriadis and Nile Rodgers to locate potential acquisition targets for Hipgnosis in the music industry.
Reid continues to run Hitco Entertainment, which he co-founded with Charles Goldstuck in 2018. Hitco artist Saint JHN released global hit ROSES earlier this year; other Hitco artists include Jennifer Lopez, OutKast’s Big Boi, The-Dream, Delacey, Yella Breezy and Dixie D’Amelio.
As a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, Reid worked with the likes of Whitney Houston, collaborating on her No. 1 hit single I’m Your Baby Tonight and co-writing and producing Queen of the Night for The Bodyguard soundtrack album. The Bodyguard soundtrack sold over 45 million copies worldwide.
Reid also enjoyed songwriting and production success with Boyz II Men, including End of the Road, which topped the US singles chart for 13 consecutive weeks, won two Grammy Awards, and became Billboard‘s biggest song of 1992.
In addition, Reid collaborated with Bobby Brown on his 12 million-selling album Don’t Be Cruel, including the singles Every Little Step, Don’t Be Cruel, Roni, and Rock Wit’Cha.
Reid’s numerous other songwriting and producing credits include The Whispers’ Rock Steady; Sheena Easton’s The Lover In Me; Karyn White’s Secret Rendezvous; After7’s Can’t Stop; Pebbles’ Giving You The Benefit; Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds’ No Crime; Toni Braxton’s You Meant The World To Me; and TLC’s Baby, Baby Baby.
Following the death of Michael Jackson in 2009, L.A. Reid worked as Executive Producer with Timbaland, J-Roc, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate and John McClain to complete unreleased tracks set to new music. In 2014, the posthumous album Xscape was released on Epic Records and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Merck Mercuriadis, Founder of Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited and The Family (Music) Limited said: “L.A. Reid has become so successful as a music executive and developer of some of the most important artists in music over the last 30 years that people often forget that he is an incomparable songwriter and the work he and Babyface did together defines R&B as we know it today.
“It’s a great pleasure to welcome L.A. Reid and his incredible set of songs to the Hipgnosis family.”
L.A. Reid said: “I can’t imagine a better home for my lifetime of music and songs than Hipgnosis. Merck and his dream team truly value artists and their creative vision, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with them for this exciting new chapter.”
“L.A. Reid has become so successful as a music executive and developer of some of the most important artists in music over the last 30 years that people often forget that he is an incomparable songwriter.”
Merck Mercuriadis, Hipgnosis
In 1988, L.A. Reid co-founded LaFace Records with Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, signing stars including 14-year-old Usher, TLC, OutKast, Toni Braxton, and P!nk, all of whom went on to sell tens of millions worldwide.
In 2000, LaFace merged with Arista Records, and L.A. Reid moved to New York to become CEO and President. During this period of his career, Reid went on to signed and developed the global multi-platinum careers of Avril Lavigne and Ciara.
In 2004, L.A. Reid was appointed Chairman and CEO of The Island Def Jam Music Group (“IDJ”), playing an instrumental role in bringing Mariah Carey’s career back to the top of the charts with her 10x platinum and diamond certified, critically-acclaimed album, ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’, which become the US’s bestselling album of 2005.
Whilst at IDJ, L.A. Reid was also a key player in the successes of Kanye West, Rihanna, Bon Jovi, The Killers, Rick Ross, Fall Out Boy and Ne-Yo, and the musical comeback of Jennifer Lopez with her 2011 album ‘Love?’. During that time, L.A. Reid was perhaps best known for signing the 14-year-old unknown Canadian Justin Bieber.
L.A. Reid departed IDJ in 2011 to join Epic Records (Sony Music Entertainment) as Chairman and CEO. At Epic Records, he went on to sign and develop Meghan Trainor, Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello, Future, Travis Scott, DJ Khalid, and 21 Savage, before leaving under controversial circumstances in 2017.Music Business Worldwide
