X Marks the Spot for L.A.

L.A. Reid, soon-to-be-former chairman of Island Def Jam sent an internal memo on Thursday stating, "I have decided to leave my position as chairman of the Island Def Jam Music Group."  It's becoming more widely spoken that he may be joining the panel of judges on "The X Factor" with Simon Cowell and Digital Spy and Fox have apparently confirmed this. 

Reid has been a prominent figure in the music business since beginning his career in the mid-70s with Cincinnati-based funk rock group Pure Essence.  Reid founded LaFace Records (TLC, OutKast, Toni Braxton) with former bandmate Babyface through a joint venture with Clive Davis in 1989.  He brought artists such as Pink, Ciara, and Avril Lavigne onto Arista after selling LaFace to BMG and becoming the company's President in the early 2000s.  After the Sony/BMG merger in 2004, he became the Chairman and CEO of IDJ Music Group, paving the way for Mariah Carey's resurgence in 2005, Kanye West, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and most recently, Jennifer Lopez, after she left Epic. 

Reid has won 3 Grammys, is a record exec, songwriter, and producer.  He is also the President and CEO of Hitco Music Publishing, based in Atlanta.  He has a cosmetic line named Le Métier de Beauté.  In August 2006, he and Babyface were honored as BMI Icons at the 6th annual BMI Urban Awards, adding his sum of BMI awards to total 18.  He has 33 No. 1 singles.


Update (3/19): It's official, Simon Cowell has announced L.A. Reid is set to be a judge on X.