Sony Relaunches Arista Records
• Sony Music Entertainment CEO Rob Stringer today announced the relaunch of Arista Records under the leadership of veteran music industry executive David Massey, who will serve as President and CEO of Arista, which will become an all-new frontline creative center within Sony Music led by Massey, who is based in New York and reports directly to Stringer. Sony Music and Massey have also entered into a new joint venture for Massey-led artist management and music publishing businesses.
Stringer commented, “We are excited to be reintroducing the iconic Arista brand as a full major label under the leadership of David Massey. David is a visionary and progressive talent developer and his recent success at breaking new artists around the world only highlights his remarkable consistency of creative success year after year. As well as releasing new music to the world, David will use his vast experience in building new publishing and artist management ventures that will enhance Sony Music’s overall music strategy.”
Massey was most recently President & CEO of Island Records. Prior to running Island, Massey spent six years as President of Mercury Records. Before that, he was EVP, A&R, Sony Music Label Group U.S., and President of his own imprint, Daylight Records, which was founded in 2000. Earlier in his career Massey spent a decade with Epic Records several different roles, including EVP/GM and EVP of A&R. Massey remarked, “I want to thank Rob Stringer for the phenomenal opportunity to return to Sony Music in an expansive new partnership and lead the next chapter of Arista Records. Clive Davis made the Arista name synonymous with tremendous creativity and great songs, and I look forward to continuing that identity by working with the many talented people at Sony to build a new roster of hit artists. I am also excited to join forces with Sony to drive additional growth through artist management and music publishing.”
Founded by Clive Davis in 1974, Arista Records is among the most storied labels in the history of the recorded music business and previously served as the home to such iconic artists as Whitney Houston, the Kinks, Patti Smith, the Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, Barry Manilow and Aretha Franklin. Davis said, “I am really delighted to see the Arista name return to a place of prominence under an executive with the talents of David Massey. David is a true music man who has tremendous respect for artistry, and he is the ideal choice to carry on the label’s great tradition.”
Pictured, (l-r): Clive Davis, Chief Creative Officer, Sony Music Entertainment, David Massey, President and CEO, Arista Records, Rob Stringer, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment.
