Recent President's Merit Award winner and former reality singing competition judge L.A. Reid believes that shows like "X Factor," "American Idol" and "The Voice" can still produce stars.
Addressing the amount of shows out today, along with success stories and some failures with winners, Reid says there is "no exact science" when it comes to TV and talent.
"We've seen the show create stars and fail to create stars. It's not unlike all of the other platforms. We've seen artists go to No. 1 on the radio and not have a career, or the opposite. There is no exact science to what we do … whether you're auditioning for a TV talent show or putting out a garage demo … everything is a competition," Reid shared with Grammy.com. "And there's no one way. And that's the beauty of this business. There is no blueprint. You have to find your own."
That said, Reid is a fan of Cee Lo Green, who he admires for creating his own lane and putting his unique brand out there via "The Voice."
"I have to say the one who's had the most surprising career has been Cee Lo [Green]. I signed Cee Lo with Goodie Mob and also put out his very first solo album on Arista. He's my friend. I always thought he was really talented and smart. I loved to hear him talk," Reid admits. "He's one of those guys when he came to my office, he spoke with such flair. It was one of those things that stuck in the back of my mind. "Damn, he's special … ." But I wondered what that meant. He found a way with "The Voice" to put himself on a platform for everyone to see how special he was as a performer. I just got back from Las Vegas with "Loberace" posters all over, which is Cee Lo. That's my kid. I'm proud of him."
As previously reported, L.A. Reid parted with "X Factor USA" at the end of season two (in December). Cee Lo Green also parted with "The Voice" in December.
LA Reid is a music mogul who has seen his share of success and failure in the industry. He recently opened up about his experience with ‘The X Factor’, which was both a financial success and an artistic flop. In this exclusive interview, he discusses why Cee Lo Green had to leave the show after its first season as well as what he’s learned from that experience. We get an inside look into how LA Reid approaches business decisions through his perspective on The X Factor debacle, giving us insight into the world of one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in entertainment today.
When it comes to forward-thinking talent scouts and innovators, few can match LA Reid’s resume for sheer impact over the past two decades. From discovering some of today’s biggest stars like Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, to producing records that have sold millions of copies worldwide, there’s no denying that when it comes to identifying musical talent or managing successful projects, Reid knows what he’s doing.
So naturally, expectations were high when Fox announced they would be launching The X Factor USA with him at the helm back in 2011 – but things didn’t quite work out as expected with Cee Lo Green departing after just one season due to creative differences between him and producers. Now, in a candid conversation with our team here at Music Weekly Magazine, LA gives us an unfiltered look behind-the-scenes and shares what he took away from The X Factor fiasco – revealing lessons that will help shape future endeavors for years to come.
La Reid’s Career Highlights
LA Reid has had a long and successful career in the music industry. He got his start as part of the 80s group, The Deele before becoming an A&R executive at LaFace Records. During this time he signed some of today’s biggest stars like TLC, OutKast, Usher and Pink. In 2004, Reid became chairman and CEO of Island Def Jam Music Group where he oversaw artists such as Mariah Carey, Rihanna and Justin Bieber.
In 2011, LA Reid joined Simon Cowell’s team on “The X Factor” as one of the judges until 2013 when he decided to leave after two seasons. Although it was a failure for him personally, many have praised him for taking risks outside his comfort zone but ultimately deciding that it wasn’t right for him. This year however, Reid is back in the spotlight with Cee Lo Green who he recently signed to his new record label HitCo Entertainment. With their collaboration looking likely to be another success story for both parties involved there is no doubt that LA Reid will remain a powerful figure within the music industry for years to come.
Reflection On ‘X Factor’ Experience
Reflecting on his experience with ‘The X Factor’, LA Reid has said that it was a risk worth taking but ultimately not the right move for him. He believes that despite its failure, there are still important lessons to be learned from the experience and he is grateful for the opportunity.
Since then, Reid has been focusing more of his energy on HitCo Entertainment which already looks like a success story. With Cee Lo Green as one of their first signings, Reid appears confident in building up this new label into something special. He explains: “I’m excited about what we have going here at HitCo. We have an amazing artist roster which continues to grow each day.”
Having now had time to reflect and learn from his ‘X Factor’ days, LA Reid is making sure to apply these experiences to ensure his current venture will yield positive results both artistically and commercially.
Conclusion
I have learned a lot from LA Reid’s career highlight and reflections on his ‘X Factor’ experience. It is clear that he has had a long, varied, and successful career in the music industry, but there are lessons to be taken away from his time as an X Factor judge. Firstly, it is important to remember that success takes hard work and dedication; even someone with decades of experience like LA Reid can make mistakes. Secondly, it is essential to take risks and embrace change when necessary – something which LA Reid did not do during his time on the show. Finally, you should always strive for excellence in whatever you do; no matter how many times you fail, if you keep trying eventually your efforts will pay off.
LA Reid’s story serves as an inspiration for anyone who dreams of making it big in the music industry. His life experiences demonstrate that while failure may sometimes get in the way of success, if you persevere then eventually good things will come out of any situation – a valuable lesson for us all!
