Next U.S. Polygram Chief May Make History : Music: Ed Eckstine may get the top American spot. He would become the first black head of a major U.S. record company outside of Motown.

The recent announcement that Alain Levy will become president and chief executive of Polygram N.V. has sparked speculation that the company might make music industry history by naming a black executive to head its U.S. operations.

A Polygram official said privately that when Levy moves to Europe and assumes his new duties Jan. 1, one of his chief lieutenants--Ed Eckstine, vice president of artists and repertoire at Polygram Records, and one of the highest-ranking black executives in the industry--will succeed him as executive vice president of Polygram Records.

Fueling the speculation, Eckstine outlined Polygram’s music strategy for the company’s officials at its international management conference last month in Nassau, Bahamas, the source said. Other industry sources said that, at recent industry gatherings, friends of Eckstine offered congratulations on his rumored promotion. Eckstine did not return telephone calls from The Times; Polygram spokeswoman Dawn Bridges said only that “no decision has been made.”

If Eckstine, 36, succeeds Levy, 43, he would be the first black head of a major U.S. record company outside of Motown, which was founded by blacks but is now owned by MCA Inc. Eckstine has deep roots in the music business. The son of swing-era bandleader Billy Eckstine, he is a former top aide to record producer Quincy Jones.

Eckstine has only held his current job, which involves finding and signing artists, for about six months. Thus, some Polygram executives feel he lacks the experience to replace Levy overseeing popular music and music publishing at Polygram’s U.S. and French operations. But Levy himself only replaced Dick Asher in the job in November before getting another promotion.

The management shuffling comes at a critical time for Polygram, which is 80% owned by the Dutch electronics conglomerate N.V. Philips. Polygram--which posted net income of roughly $173 million on sales of $2.1 billion in 1989--has been trying to restructure itself in the wake of last year’s acquisition of Island Records and A&M; Records.

Last week, Dutch and British securities analysts shaved their per-share earnings estimates for Polygram N.V. by about 12%. The analysts said they lowered their estimates due to problems they believe Polygram Records is encountering in absorbing Island and A&M;, and also due to delays in new album releases from the company.

In recent months, Polygram--whose current artists include Bon Jovi, Vanessa Williams and Def Leppard, among others--has dropped a number of acts, cutting its roster to about 65 artists. Today, other than albums from the recently purchased A&M; label, Polygram only has four albums among the nation’s top 100 bestsellers, according to Billboard magazine.

There have also been several management changes at the company, including the selection of Polygram President David Fine to become chairman Jan. 1, and changes in the leadership of Polygram’s record distribution unit.

Levy was unavailable for comment. But he told the Nassau conference that at some point Polygram Records would comprise two separate labels. Already, New York-based Mercury Records and Los Angeles-based Polydor Records--both parts of Polygram--have separate promotion and product management departments, but all other functions are administered from New York.