"Basic Instinct" was a decent record, but it wasn't "smash-worthy." She had no hit singles on it. Ciara is an artist who needs an album with at least two or three hit singles on it. The-Dream did not provide that for her, so L.A. Reid wants new writers and a new team around her. Simple as that. Payola may or may not exist, but it can only take the record so far -- if a record isn't requested by the public, then the record will not make a big impact on the charts.
...Vin