Mottola quits Sony

Sony Music chairman and chief executive Tommy Mottola, who was responsible for building the careers of Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Celine Dion, has announced he is leaving the company to start his own music label.

The departure ends Mottola’s 14-year tenure at Sony, though the new label is being created in partnership with Sony.

Mottola joined the company when it was CBS Records in 1987. Sony is letting him out of his contract two years early.

“I have been thinking about taking up this new challenge for about a year, and really made the decision to go forward only recently,” Mottola, 52, said last night.

“I am thrilled that I will continue my long-standing relationship with Sony to create a company that I believe will become a blueprint for the music business in the coming years.”

There is no name yet for Mottola’s new company, but it will be a partnership with Sony Music. He is not expected to bring any Sony artists to his new venture.

His successor is expected to be named within the next few days, Sony said in a statement.

“With all of the changes in the music industry, Tommy felt it was important to him that he return to his great passion for label and artist development,” said Nobuyuki Idei, chairman and chief executive of the Sony Corporation.

“We deeply appreciate all that he has done to extend Sony’s presence around the world.”

Last year, Mottola was also involved in an embarrassing feud with one of Sony’s biggest stars, Michael Jackson.

Jackson, disappointed with below-average sales and a perceived lack of promotion for his album Invincible, accused Mottola of being a racist. Several black industry executives spoke in Mottola’s defence.

Among Mottola’s biggest successes was Mariah Carey. He signed the unknown when he was president of Columbia Records. Carey made her debut in 1990 and went on to sell more than 50 million albums in her career.

Carey and Mottola married in 1993 but split up after four years.