Weiss will take over from Reid as chairman and CEO of Island Def Jam and will also head up the Universal Motown Republic Group, which includes the Republic, Motown and Mercury labels. Weiss will report to Universal Music chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge.

In an internal email to staff Grainge said Weiss had achieved "that rare and delicate balance between managing artistic needs and the realities of the business" throughout his career.

"He is an entrepreneur, who possesses a deep ...