Kevin Liles Leaves Def Jam

Def Jam President Kevin Liles has left the company due to internal friction with newly named CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid.According to reports, Liles was forced out due to pressures by Reid.Reid replaced ex-CEO Lyor Cohen, who now heads up Warner Music Group’s North American operations.Sources said Reid has been staffing Island/Def Jam with colleagues from […]

Def Jam President Kevin Liles has left the company due to internal friction with newly named CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid.According to reports, Liles was forced out due to pressures by Reid.Reid replaced ex-CEO Lyor Cohen, who now heads up Warner Music Group’s North American operations.Sources said Reid has been staffing Island/Def Jam with colleagues from Arista.The move marks a busy week for Universal, which saw Kedar Massenburg resign as president of Motown.Massenburg will launch his own label and licensing company.Sources told AllHipHop.com that Sylvia Rhone, former head of Elektra, was in the running to take Massenburg’s place as head of Motown.