Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 5,288
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L.A. Reid on Mariah to Billboard
Quote:
You signed Carey to IDJ and now Epic. Six years since her last top 10 song, what do you expect from her new single, "Infinity"?
Mariah Carey made her first hit record in 1991. To even be on the radio at this point in her career is a huge accomplishment, because radio doesn't cater to veteran artists or legends. Radio caters to in-the-moment stars... Nobody that put out records 25 years ago is going to have a No. 1. Not Paul, Stevie, Bruce, Mick or Keith. Not Prince, not anyone. So if she can get on the radio, we've done damn good. Would we like to have a No. 1? F-- yeah, I'm greedy. But it's not realistic.
Will you put her back in the studio?
Absolutely, but I don't believe in asking artists to go back and be who they once were. I like concept records, I like the idea of thematic, storytelling records. I love duets and the Great American Songbook. I think a great vocalist should un-cage themselves and think about things like that sometimes. I mean, Frank Sinatra did it. It's fun to sing songs you love. And let's not forget that one of Mariah's biggest hits, "I'll Be There," was a cover. There are many things that Mariah can still do.
In a way, do you have to position Carey as a new artist?
No. I'm not under any illusion that Mariah should compete with, say, Taylor Swift or Ariana Grande. Our job is to make sure the quality is there. Every artist is one great song away from massive success.
You were in attendance for the first show of her residency at Caesars in Las Vegas on May 6. How was it for you?
I had a great time. In all of the years that we spent as friends and working together, I have never been in the audience when Mariah Carey sang all of her hits! She was having fun, she was comfortable and made us comfortable. We didn't have that sitting-on-the-edge-of-the-chair anxiety as we watched the show. It was like we were in Mariah Carey's home.
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He truly is the best thing that could happen to her at this point. 
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