Former “X Factor” judge L.A. Reid is back in the forefront of the music business after being forced to step down as CEO of Epic Records amid sexual harassment allegations in 2017.
On Tuesday, the hitmaker returned to Atlanta to deliver a keynote speech and party with music royalty.
He spoke at the “Atlanta: A Music Cities Business Summit,” where we’re told he urged major labels like Sony, Warner Music and UMG to pay more respect to the Atlanta music scene.
“He said it was time to … make the majors honor music from Atlanta. [He wants] talent and execs to pour [into the community] and don’t just take from it and then leave to grow elsewhere,” a source who attended the summit told Page Six.
Music industry vet and Recording Academy chair Tammy Hurt moderated the event, where Atlanta music producers Jermaine Dupri and Dallas Austin were honored “for helping shape the city,” we’re told. Entertainment lawyer Joel Katz introduced Reid.
Reid also hosted a dinner at UMI in Buckhead where Usher surprised him. Sources told us the night turned into “showing love for Reid’s legacy.” Reid has signed stars including Meghan Trainor, Future, Fifth Harmony, Travis Scott and DJ Khaled.
L.A. Reid and Usher’s friendship dates back to when the star was 13.Getty Images for BET“It was a really wonderful night,” our source said. “He’s known Usher since he was 13 and they caught up about his Vegas residency and the upcoming anniversary of his “My Way” album.”
We’re told the music bunch hit up the studio after dinner, where they quipped about having an A&R meeting.
Reid, the once-influential head of Epic Records, was ousted from the Sony Music label after a co-worker complained to the company about several instances of alleged sexual harassment, The Post exclusively revealed in 2017.
The industry veteran allegedly made inappropriate physical advances toward an assistant at a company holiday party, and allegedly asked her to lie down in bed with him and give him a hug while the two were at a hotel while traveling on business. Reid’s attorney Katz did not comment on the allegations at the time.
