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AristaRecords
Arista Records is a Sony Music Entertainment label originally founded in 1974 by Clive Davis as a successor to Bell Records. The label built a legendary roster through the 1970s to 2000s including Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Barry Manilow, and TLC. After being absorbed into RCA Records in 2011, the Arista brand was relaunched in 2018 as a standalone Sony Music imprint focused on international and alternative pop.
Under president David Massey, the revived Arista entered the K-pop market in August 2024 when FIFTY FIFTY -- the girl group whose Cupid became one of the highest-charting K-pop songs on the UK Singles Chart and crossed into the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023 -- signed a partnership with the label to promote their second mini album globally. The deal leveraged Arista's Sony Music infrastructure to expand Korean-language content into Western mainstream markets. The label pursued a similar international strategy in J-Pop with Creepy Nuts.
David Massey announced his retirement as Arista president effective June 2025, capping a tenure in which the relaunched label expanded from US-centric A&R into the global Korean and Japanese music markets. Arista Records operates with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and international divisions as an imprint within the Sony Music global network.
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Fans Also Ask
Who owns Arista Records?
Arista Records is owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Originally founded by Clive Davis in 1974, the label was relaunched in 2018 after previously being absorbed into RCA Records in 2011. It operates as a standalone Sony Music imprint.
What artists are signed to Arista Records?
The revived Arista Records roster includes FIFTY FIFTY (K-Pop), Creepy Nuts (J-Pop), and various international alternative pop acts. Historically, the label was home to Whitney Houston, Santana, and Barry Manilow.
Who runs Arista Records?
David Massey served as President of Arista Records since its 2018 relaunch. He announced his retirement effective June 2025. Massey was instrumental in the label signing global pop acts including Korean and Japanese artists.
What K-pop artists are signed to Arista Records?
The most prominent K-pop act on Arista Records is FIFTY FIFTY, the girl group who signed with the label in August 2024 to promote their second mini album to US and global audiences. FIFTY FIFTY gained international attention in 2023 when Cupid became one of the highest-charting K-pop songs on the UK Singles Chart and crossed into the Billboard Hot 100, driven by a viral TikTok challenge.
Who founded Arista Records and what is its history?
Arista Records was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who had previously led Columbia Records. Davis built Arista into one of pop music's most successful labels, signing Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, Carlos Santana, and TLC. The original label was absorbed into RCA Records in 2011. In 2018, Sony Music relaunched the Arista brand as a standalone imprint under president David Massey, refocused on international pop, K-pop, and J-Pop acts.
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