EMI Music Publishing has completed an agreement with Island Def Jam exec and hitmaker Antonio LA Reid to form a joint venture to sign new songwriters.

The new L.A. Reid Music Publishing Company will provide EMI Music with the exclusive services of Reid, who is being charged with discovering and signing new and established songwriters to publishing deals.

“Throughout my career in music, I’ve been devoted to the songwriter’s craft first, last and always,” says Reid, who has been behind a raft of big selling acts including Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher, OutKast, Pink and Ne-Yo. “I consider the business of publishing to be the heart and soul of the industry.”

EMI Music Publishing president of West Coast Creative, Big Jon Platt adds, “LA’s track record speaks for itself. He’s discovered some of the most enduring talents of the last twenty years, and his hit rate with songwriters and recording artists alike is phenomenal.”

Reid was appointed Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group in 2004, after serving as president and CEO of Arista Records since 2000. Prior to that, he was the co-founder of LaFace Records, the Atlanta-based label that introduced Toni Braxton, OutKast, TLC and Usher.