Arista Records was founded in 1975 by Clive Davis, and named after his secondary school honor society. Arista was called Bell Records until 1975. It was acquired by Ariola Records at the end of the 1970s and is now part of the BMG group.

Over the years Arista acquired Northwestside Records, Deconstruction Records, First Avenue Records and Dedicated Records in the UK. Arista started a joint-venture with Antonio "LA" Reid: LaFace Records and another joint-venture with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs: Bad Boy Records. It distributed Heavenly Records and finally acquired LaFace Records in 1999.

This label has one of the most diverse lineups in the record industry ranging from "soft" performers to heavy metal's Krokus. It has been home to Prince, Barry Manilow, Whitney Houston, Grateful Dead, Sarah McLachlan, Air Supply, Dionne Warwick, Exposé, Annie Lennox, Puffy Combs, Kenny G, Aretha Franklin, Toni Braxton and Patti Smith. Current stars include TLC, Dido, Avril Lavigne and Pink.