Arista Records was an American record label that was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, a prominent music executive. The label was known for its roster of popular artists, which included Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, Santana, and Aretha Franklin, among others.
Arista Records was involved in a variety of musical genres throughout its history, including pop, rock, R&B, and country. The label was a leader in the promotion and development of new music styles, such as New Wave and electronic dance music in the 1980s and 1990s.
In addition to its success with individual artists, Arista Records also played a key role in the development of the music industry as a whole. The label was one of the first to embrace new technologies, such as compact discs and digital music distribution.
In 2011, Sony Music Entertainment acquired Arista Records and merged it with its RCA Records label. Today, many of the artists that were originally signed to Arista Records continue to release music under the RCA Records label.