Sony Music officially announced on Monday, April 7, that David Massey, who has served as the president of Arista Records since its relaunch in 2018, will be retiring at the end of June. As of now, the company has not disclosed any information regarding his successor or the future leadership structure for the label.
“It has been a privilege to collaborate with David on the revitalization of Arista,” stated Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer during the announcement. “Over two distinct periods at Sony Music, David has emerged as a highly respected senior executive, contributing immensely to the company on a global scale. As both a friend and colleague through those times, I sincerely wish him all the joy and fulfillment in his well-deserved retirement.”
Founded by the legendary Clive Davis in 1974, Arista Records has been home to iconic artists such as Whitney Houston, Patti Smith, Carlos Santana, and Barry Manilow, among many others. The label was retired in 2011 by RCA executives, yet Sony Music Nashville continued to operate the Arista Nashville branch, which included prominent country artist Brad Paisley, until its closure in March 2023.
The decision to revive the Arista Records brand, championed by Massey and Stringer, received enthusiastic endorsement from Clive Davis in 2018. “Clive was incredibly supportive of the idea,” Massey shared with Billboard at that time. “We all felt it was a natural and exciting opportunity to bring back a label that has so much respect and love from the music community.”
Under Massey’s leadership, the Arista roster has flourished, featuring talents like Grammy-nominated singer JP Saxe, the Italian rock sensation Måneskin, and emerging rappers Lola Brooke and Paul Russell, thus ensuring a diverse and dynamic collection of artists that resonate with contemporary audiences.
Before taking the helm at Arista, Massey had a successful tenure at Universal Music Group, leading Mercury Records from 2007 before transitioning to become president of Island Records in 2013. During his time at Island, which was part of the Island Def Jam Music Group until it became independent in April 2014, Massey played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of numerous successful artists, including Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Tove Lo, The Killers, Fall Out Boy, Bon Jovi, and Mike Posner.
Earlier in his career, Massey dedicated a decade to Sony’s Epic Records, where he advanced through the A&R department, ultimately becoming the head of this division and later the executive vice president of A&R for Sony Music Label Group U.S. Additionally, he founded Daylight Records in 2000, where he signed and developed notable artists like Good Charlotte, Jonas Brothers, Anastacia, and Phantom Planet, showcasing his keen ability to identify and nurture talent.
Before his impactful tenure at Epic Records, Massey built a successful career in London as an artist manager, notably working with acts like Wang Chung. He also established his own independent record label, Big World Records, further demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit and deep commitment to the music industry.
Massey held a significant role as a governor and trustee at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) from 2010 to 2015, contributing to the governance and strategic direction of the music industry during a crucial period of transition.
“It has been a tremendous honor to spend this chapter of my career back at Sony Music, working alongside Rob Stringer, a visionary leader whom I deeply admire, as well as with the exceptional Sony family across the globe,” Massey remarked. “Having started the label from scratch nearly seven years ago, I am immensely proud of what the Arista team has accomplished and the incredible young artists we have nurtured. I have every confidence that Arista will continue to thrive and evolve in the years to come.”
