Arista Records in 3-Year Deal With Flyte Tyme

Arista Records has made a three-year deal with Grammy award-winning producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to distribute, promote and market the duo’s Flyte Tyme Records.

Jam and Lewis, who are responsible for most of Janet Jackson’s chart-topping recordings, as well as hits from such artists as Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey, will produce music for Arista artists, said Arista President Antonio “L.A.” Reid. In addition, artists will be signed to Flyte Tyme and marketed by Arista.

Reid was recently installed as Arista’s president, replacing company founder Clive Davis. Davis left after Arista’s corporate parent, BMG Entertainment, enforced its mandatory retirement policy. The 67-year-old Davis last week announced the creation of a new record label, J Records, with BMG.

Arista is home to such superstars as Whitney Houston and Carlos Santana.