Music executive L.A. Reid has settled a sexual assault and harassment lawsuit filed by former Arista Records colleague Drew Dixon on the day their trial was scheduled to begin in Manhattan federal court. The settlement terms remain confidential, with no admission of liability from Reid. Dixon, a prominent A&R executive, expressed hope that the resolution advances safer conditions in the music industry.
On January 12, 2026, L.A. Reid, the veteran music executive and former head of Arista Records, reached an out-of-court settlement with Drew Dixon, resolving her allegations of sexual assault and harassment from over two decades ago. The agreement came hours before the trial was set to start in Manhattan federal court, averting what promised to be a high-profile case in the music industry.
Dixon, who served as vice president of A&R at Arista under Reid's leadership starting in 2000, filed the lawsuit in November 2023 under New York's Adult Survivors Act. This law provided a one-year window for civil claims related to sexual offenses beyond the statute of limitations. In her complaint, Dixon detailed two specific incidents: one in 2001 on a private plane to a company retreat in Puerto Rico, where she alleged Reid digitally penetrated her without consent after flirting and isolating her. The second occurred in Reid's car in New York City, involving similar non-consensual touching as she tried to rebuff his advances. Dixon claimed that after rejecting his overtures, Reid retaliated by derailing her career, including thwarting her efforts to sign artists like John Legend.
Reid has denied the allegations throughout the proceedings. His attorney, Imran H. Ansari, stated, “Mr. Reid has amicably resolved this matter with Ms. Dixon without any admission of liability.” Dixon's lawyer, Kenya Davis, announced outside the courthouse, “We are happy to report that a settlement has been reached, the terms of which are confidential.” She praised Dixon's advocacy, noting her role in advancing the Adult Survivors Act and shifting power dynamics for survivors in the music industry.
Dixon, whose credits include hits like Method Man and Mary J. Blige's “I’ll Be There for You (You’re All I Need),” expressed gratitude to her family and optimism for her future. “I hope my work as an advocate for the Adult Survivors Act helps to bring us closer to a safer music business for everyone,” she said. “In a world where good news is often hard to find, I hope for survivors that today is a ray of light peeking through the clouds.” This settlement follows Reid's 2017 departure from Epic Records amid separate harassment claims and Dixon's prior accusation against Russell Simmons, detailed in the 2020 documentary On the Record.
The case highlights ongoing efforts to address sexual misconduct in entertainment, with Dixon reaffirming her commitment to creative pursuits guided by integrity.
