Arista Nashville

History

Founder Clive Davis considered a Nashville branch as early as 1980 but delayed it due to an industry slump. In 1989, Davis partnered with songwriter Tim DuBois to launch the label, whose first roster included Asleep at the Wheel, Alan Jackson, Lee Roy Parnell, Pam Tillis, and Michelle Wright. Within its first five years, additional artists such as Blackhawk, Brooks & Dunn, Rob Crosby, Linda Davis, Diamond Rio, Exile, Radney Foster, Dude Mowrey, The Tractors, and Steve Wariner recorded for the label. Arista Texas was founded in 1993 as a sub-label for Texas music; in 1997 it split into Arista Austin and a Spanish-language label called Arista Latin. Career Records, another sub-label, launched in 1995 with Lee Roy Parnell transferred to it, while Brett James and Tammy Graham were newly signed; all three returned to Arista Nashville when Career Records dissolved. From 2005 to 2017, Arista Nashville, Arista Records, and 19 Recordings promoted and distributed Carrie Underwood's recordings. In late 2009, Brad Paisley started Sea Gayle, a personal label distributed through Arista, whose first signee was Jerrod Niemann. In March 2023, Sony Music Nashville announced the closure of Arista Nashville, with its roster moving to other Sony-owned labels.