# Music Mogul: L.A. Reid

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2016-11-07
- Length: 31m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-07-music-mogul-l-a-reid

## Summary

L.A. Reid, co-founder of LaFace Records and former CEO of Arista and Epic Records, recounts his journey from a drummer in Cincinnati to a music mogul. He details the strategic decision to launch LaFace in Atlanta, the pivotal role of the 'Boomerang' soundtrack in launching artists like TLC and Toni Braxton, and the complex dynamics of selling his company to Arista. Reid also discusses his talent-spotting instincts, the challenges of managing egos, and his eventual firing from Arista followed by his rapid rise at Universal Music Group.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-07-music-mogul-l-a-reid#t=0) Introduction: L.A. Reid's Early Life and Music Career
- [2:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-07-music-mogul-l-a-reid#t=143) Forming Deele and Transitioning to Production
- [8:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-07-music-mogul-l-a-reid#t=493) Founding LaFace Records in Atlanta
- [14:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-07-music-mogul-l-a-reid#t=899) The Boomerang Soundtrack Strategy
- [18:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-07-music-mogul-l-a-reid#t=1129) Selling LaFace and Taking Over Arista
- [24:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-07-music-mogul-l-a-reid#t=1440) Firing from Arista and Joining Universal
- [26:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-07-music-mogul-l-a-reid#t=1590) Signing Rihanna and Defining Talent Instincts

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- LaFace Records (company)
- Arista Records (company)
- Universal Music Group (company)
- Def Jam (company)
- Epic Records (company)
- Solar Records (company)
- TLC (product)
- Toni Braxton (product)
- Pink (product)
- Rihanna (product)
- Boomerang (product)
- Clive Davis (other)
- Babyface (other)
- Doug Morris (other)
- Jay-Z (other)

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- [Founder Feature: Gabriella Labi and Tonya Reznikovich of Gato Dates](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-03-founder-feature-gabriella-labi-and-tonya-reznikovich-of-gato-dates) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-07-music-mogul-l-a-reid. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.