FIRST OFF . . .

Jheryl Busby, the current president of MCA Record’s black music division and executive vice president of talent and acquisition, is in line to head MCA’s newly acquired company, Motown, an MCA spokesman said Tuesday. “Ongoing negotiations are being held with Busby, but nothing is in stone,” the spokesman said. The talks with Busby are part of the Motown record label restructuring in the wake of last week’s $61-million sale to MCA Records and Boston Ventures Ltd. About one-third of Motown’s staff reportedly has been laid off, while the remainder of about 50 employees are expected to move to the company of Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. and MCA. “About one-third of the people have gone to MCA. Another third will probably go to the Gordy Co. and the rest have been let go. There’s no exact number yet. Everyone is asking each other, ‘Have you been let go?’ ” the Hollywood Reporter trade paper quoted one Motown official. The Gordy Co. is a production entity that includes Jobete Music Publishing--Motown’s publisher--and Motown Productions, a TV firm. Laid-off employees appear to include vice presidents and support staff in areas duplicated at MCA.