Sony Re-Launches Arista Records With Former Island CEO David Massey

Sony Music Entertainment – Arista Re-launch
Clive Davis, David Massey, Rob Stringer

Arista Records has been relaunched under the leadership of David Massey, former CEO of Island Records, with the partnership to include new publishing and artist management ventures. 

“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,” Sony Music Entertainment president and CEO Rob Stringer said in a statement released Monday. “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.”

Founded by Clive Davis in 1974, Arista Records served as the label home to artists such as Whitney Houston, The Kinks, Patti Smith, The Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, Barry Manilow and Aretha Franklin.

Said Davis, “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.”

Massey joins Artista after serving as president and CEO of Island Records, where since 2013 he oversaw hits from artists including Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, The Killers, Fall Out Boy, Mike Posner, Elton John, Bon Jovi, and Tove Lo, among others. Massey also spent six years as president of Mercury Records where he also oversaw A&R for numerous Island Records artists. He also spent time at Sony Music Label Group and as president of his own imprint Daylight Records.

Arista was operated under the RCA Music Group banner until 2011, after which it was dissolved as part of a restructuring at the label.