India.Arie blames Clive Davis, music execs for business being terrible

June 24, 2026, 8:48 p.m. ET

India Arie Simpson, who performs as India.Arie, is condemning Clive Davis’ impact on the music business after the file mogul died on June 22 at age 94.

In a June 23, Threads post, the “Video” singer, 50, referred to as out the late music titan, recognized for spearheading the careers of legendary artists like Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. India.Arie stated Davis was on the high of the dominant file labels that “damage a number of artists.”

“Mark my phrases ~ Watch what sort of archival interviews are about to return out. I might inform my story too, however mine is minimal in comparison with what you’re about to listen to,” she wrote. “when folks discuss in regards to the music business being so terrible. It’s the file label executives that do this.”

The four-time Grammy winner emphasised that “as ahead these phrases could also be, that is the diplomatic model.”

USA TODAY has reached out to Davis’ representatives for remark.

India.Arie has a status of advocating for self-empowerment and social consciousness in her music, in addition to being outspoken on race and cultural id points. All through her profession, she was signed to Motown Data, Common Republic Data, and in 2008 she based her personal unbiased imprint, SoulBird Music, in partnership with Common Republic Data.

Davis is credited with elevating musical expertise into landmark artists, together with Janis Joplin, Santana, Barry Manilow, Chicago, Pink Floyd, Earth, Wind & Hearth, and Aerosmith.

His household confirmed his loss of life in an announcement shared with USA TODAY, saying he “passed away peacefully from age-related illness” at his Manhattan residence on June 22, “surrounded by his household and family members.” He had not too long ago been hospitalized for an upper respiratory infection.

Clive Davis beforehand led Arista data and J Data

Davis was named as president of Columbia Data in 1966 and by 1974, he launched Arista Data, the place he achieved huge success steering the careers of Carly Simon, The Grateful Useless and Aretha Franklin.

Considered one of his largest discoveries was undoubtedly Whitney Houston. In Davis’ 2013 memoir, “The Soundtrack of My Life,” he wrote that not even he might efficiently intervene to curb her drug use regardless of the pair sharing an extended skilled relationship all through her profession.

Davis left Arista in 2000 after studying that executives at BMG Leisure, the label’s guardian firm, have been planning to replace him with L.A. Reid. That very same 12 months, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame earlier than happening to discovered J Data.