Ariola Records (also known as Ariola and Ariola-Eurodisc) is a German record label. As of the late 1980s, it was a subsidiary label of BMG which in turn has since become a part of the international media conglomerate Sony Music Entertainment (SME). It still exists, after BMG's demise, as a division of SME.
Ariola setup several subsidiaries: Ariola America was founded in 1975 in Los Angeles, Ariola-Athena to release spoken word records, Ariola Benelux was founded in 1970 to cover the Benelux market, Ariola Eurodisc was a Spanish division of Ariola, founded in 1970, Ariola UK the UK based subsidiary of Ariola was founded in 1977, Baccarola, Türküola for the Turkish market, Eurodisc to release disco records in France - most successfully with Amanda Lear and Jupiter Records for German schlager music and disco like for instance group Dschinghis Khan.
It acquired both Arista Records and German rival label Hansa Records in 1979.
Ariola America also had a sister label called Ocean Records, which included on its roster actress/entertainer Ann-Margret. It was active 1979 thru 1980.
In the 1980s, there was a software development division called Ariolasoft.
BMG International, N.V. was a record label based in Zurich, Switzerland, established in 1974. It created a Canadian division of Ariola Records with BMG Music Canada.