Many of the UK's top established reggae names have built careers at Ariwa (Sandra Cross, Macka B, Kofi, Mad Professor, John McLean, Black Steel) whilst others have been welcomed at Ariwa at crucial career points (Carroll Thompson, Pato Banton, Tippa Irie, Peter Hunnigale, Papa "Phillip" Levi). Since the outset however, Ariwa has proved a "home away" for many of Jamaica's top artists, from Johnny Clarke and Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace in the early '80s through to Yabby You, Ranking Joe, Susan Cadogan and J.C. Lodge in the '90s. Particularly fruitful musical relationships have continued with reggae giants U Roy and Lee Perry, helping in part, towards their renewed critical and sales success.

Ariwa Sounds' achievements have been parelleled by personal success for Mad Professor, whose own albums (20-plus and rising) sell consistently well across the world, with a subsequent, (exhausting) demand for live appearances. He has also re-shaped, in his own inimitable style, the work of artists, such as Massive Attack, The Orb, KLF, UB 40, through to Sade, Jamiroquai, The Beasty Boys and Rancid (!).

This year, and years to come, will herald a series of new releases from debuting and established artists. Thus - and with the synchronised release of new and existing products in the US, Japan, Europe, The Caribbean and Australia - Ariwa hopes to consolidate its expanding global profile by releasing new progressive material, by fresh talents willing to experiment with innovating developing technologies.