FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Remembering Clive Davis: The Ultimate Record Man and the Soundtrack of Our Lives
By MUBUTV News June 22, 2026
The music industry has lost its most towering architect. Legendary music industry executive, starmaker, and five-time Grammy Award winner Clive Davis passed away peacefully today at his home in Manhattan at the age of 94. His publicist, Aliza Rabinoff, and his family confirmed that he passed from age-related illnesses following a brief hospitalization for an upper respiratory infection in late May.
At MUBUTV (Music Business Television), this loss hits incredibly close to home. In May 2024, we had the profound honor of hosting Clive for an exclusive, career-spanning interview on our Music Business Insider Podcast. Hosts Ritch Esra and Eric Knight sat down with the industry giant to unpack "the stories we’ve never heard"—revealing deeply personal reflections on his 50-plus-year journey. During that memorable conversation, Clive looked back on the fundamental truths of what it takes to build a viable and sustainable career in the music business, sharing the invaluable creative and non-creative criteria he used when scouting the world's most defining talents.
His journey was nothing short of miraculous. Originally a Harvard Law School graduate who entered the industry as a chief attorney, Davis went on to serve as the president of Columbia Records before launching Arista Records in 1974 and, later, J Records. Over a monumental five-decade career, his peerless vision, work ethic, and unmatched musical instincts fundamentally shifted the landscape of contemporary music. He didn't just witness the evolution of rock, pop, R&B, and hip-hop—he actively shaped it, launching and reviving the careers of cultural titans including Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, and Kelly Clarkson.
In an official statement released today, the Davis family expressed their profound grief while celebrating his massive cultural footprint and his devotion as a family man:
"To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives. He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations. Through every chapter of his remarkable life, family remained Clive's greatest pride and deepest joy. Today, we celebrate not only a towering figure whose influence changed music forever, but the man who led our family with grace, generosity, and kindness.
"For all of us at MUBUTV, and for the global community of musicians and industry professionals who tune in to be educated, empowered, and engaged, Clive Davis will forever represent the golden standard of the "ultimate record man." His legacy is stitched into the very fabric of modern music history, and his insights will continue to inspire generations of executives and artists to come.
Details regarding memorial services are expected to be announced at a later date, and his family has requested privacy at this time.
For those looking to revisit his timeless industry wisdom, you can watch the full MUBUTV Conversation with Clive Davis to hear him reflect firsthand on his legendary career, his signing criteria, and the behind-the-scenes evolution of Arista and J Records.
For more information on MUBUTV, contact:
John Sanders at:
Phone: 424.245.0416
Website: www.mubutv.com
Ritch Esra & Eric Knight are available for interviews across all media.
ABOUT MUBUTV
MUBUTV™ | Music Business Television is an online music business channel featuring news, original programming, and interviews with leading experts in the music industry. Its mission is to educate, empower, and engage musicians and industry professionals of the twenty-first century.
About MUBUTV’s Music Business Insider Podcast:
The video series takes a deep dive into the many challenges and nuances of building a viable and sustainable career in today’s new music business. Guests have included legendary record executive Clive Davis, music attorney and author Donald Passman, producer Mike Clink [Guns N’ Roses], A&R legend John Kalodner, independent artist Ari Herstand, and more. Hosted by Ritch Esra and Eric Knight, co-founders of the platform.
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