Arista

In May 1974, former CBS Records president Clive Davis became a consultant to Columbia Pictures Industries (CPI) for the company’s record and music operations, which had included the Bell Records label and its various subsidiaries. Later that year, Arista Records was formed, its stock owned by CPI and Davis. In addition to the cash capitalization of $10 million, Davis was given the rights to the entire Columbia Pictures music catalog plus the right to continue with any artist who had been on the Bell roster.

In 1979 Arista Records was acquired by Bertelsmann AG (parent of German label Ariola). Due to the crisis in the American music market, caused by the general recession, Ariola sold 50% of Arista to RCA in 1983.

Two years later Bertelsmann and RCA started a joint venture for their music divisions, RCA/Ariola Records. In 1987 Bertelsmann has purchased all of the joint venture's stock and became the owner of both RCA and Arista in the process. The RCA, Arista and Ariola labels were united the same year as Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG).

Arista is now a part of the RCA/Jive Label Group unit of Sony Music Entertainment.

Labelcode: LC 3484

Publishing: Arista Music