Mariah Carey's Label Boss L.A. Reid Says She Is "Not Going to Have a No. 1" Song With "Infinity"

"Radio caters to in-the-moment stars," he says

It can't be a good feeling when your own boss doesn't have confidence in your work.

Mariah Carey returned to the stage of the Billboard Music Awards Sunday for the first time in 15 years, but her label boss, Antonio "L.A." Reid, is already expressing his skepticism about the potential success of her new single, "Infinity."

Talking to Billboard magazine in an interview released Monday, the Epic Records CEO did not speak highly of Carey, or really anyone who would be considered a "music legend."

He insisted that she should be proud just to hear herself on the airwaves. "To even be on the radio at this point in her career is a huge accomplishment, because radio doesn't cater to veteran artists or legends," he explained. "Radio caters to in-the-moment stars."

If it's any consolation, Reid also said that other iconic entertainers would have just as hard of a time. "Nobody that put out records 25 years ago is going to have a No. 1. Not Paul [McCartney], Stevie [Wonder], Bruce [Springsteen], Mick [Jagger] or Keith [Richards]. Not Prince, not anyone," he said.

"So if she can get on the radio, we've done damn good," he added. "Would we like to have a No. 1? F– yeah, I'm greedy. But it's not realistic."

The 45-year-old "Always Be My Baby" singer re-signed with Epic Records in March after having worked with Def Jam records for quite sometime. Almost as soon as she rejoined her former label, she released a greatest-hits collection and launched a Las Vegas concert residency. Reid's brutal honesty might hurt, but it also could be the reason why she went back to her roots.

Carey recently opened up to the L.A. Times about her latest career moves and even explained her return to Reid. "I felt really abandoned by him. I was lost. I really didn't like being at a place without a family," she explained. "You've gotta have people that actually care about you as an artist, that's first and foremost, and as a person as well.

"That's what you get with him. I was kind of like floundering, doing some work that I'm still really proud of," she added.