Music exec L.A. Reid to judge Fox's 'The X Factor'

LOS ANGELES  – It was long rumored and now looks like it's come true: Island Def Jam chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid will be a judge on "The X Factor."

Sources tells THR "it's a done deal." Reid, whose contract with Universal Music is up in December, will get an early release so that he can take part in Simon Cowell's show, which awards a Sony Music recording contract worth $5 million to the winner.

Auditions for X Factor begin on March 27 in Los Angeles. An announcement is to be made this week, according to an insider.

Reid is expected to be one of four judges. It is also believed that he will land a position at Sony Music, which is about to undergo a major management restructuring when current UMG chairman Doug Morris steps in as CEO of Sony Music on July 1.

Reps for Universal Music and Fox, which will air "The X Factor" this September, would not comment.