Universal Records (Philippines)
Universal Records Philippines Inc. is a Filipino record label founded in 1977 as part of Warner Music Group.[1] Since 1992, it is an independent label. The label is currently a member of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry.[2]
Universal Records (Philippines) | |
---|---|
Parent company | Warner Music Group (1977–1992) Independent (1992–present) |
Founded | 1977 (as WEA Records Philippines) |
Founder | Warner Music Group Bella Dy Tan |
Status | Active |
Distributor(s) | self-distributed |
Genre | Various |
Country of origin | Philippines |
Location | 9/F, Universal Tower, 1487 Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines |
Official website | universalrecords |
Universal Records also released video karaoke VCDs versions of the label's songs in the Philippines.
History
URPI was founded in 1977 as WEA Records Philippines Inc. The company was the licensee of WEA in Philippines for 15 years, but the latter still decided to put its own office, the precursor of what is now Warner Music Philippines.
In 1992, the company adopted a new name, Universal Records Philippines Inc., and since then it rose as one of the Philippines' best and biggest record labels.
Universal Records officially distributed K-pop albums from September 2009, to be followed by some J-pop albums which was announced late May 2011.
Currently, it is the leading independent recording company in the country, being home to bestselling OPM artists.
In 2018, the company launched Mustard Music, a sublabel focusing on the growth of homegrown indie acts.
Distributed labels
As of 2011 :
Local
- 12 Stone Inc.
- GMA Music
- Jesuit Communications Foundation
- Jesuit Music Ministry
- Soupstar Music
Foreign
- 618 International Records
- AI Entertainment
- All Around the World Productions
- American Laundromat Records
- Angular Recording Corporation
- Arts & Crafts
- Avex Group
- Avex Taiwan
- Avex Asia
- Armada Music
- Johnny's Entertainment
- Kontor Records
- / Major Chord Records
- Purple Communication
- S.M. Entertainment
- Vandit
- Beggars Banquet Records
- Blanco y Negro Records
- Bonnier Amigo Music Group
- Brickhouse Direct
- Cooking Vinyl
- Domino Records
- Edel Music
- Elefant Records
- FNC Music
- Geneon Entertainment (music division)
- Imperial Records
- Instant Karma
- Kitty-Yo
- Labrador Records
- Liberation Music
- Licking Fingers
- LOEN Entertainment
- LTM Recordings
- Matador Records
- Moshi Moshi Records
- NeoMONDE Productions
- NH Media
- Nippon Columbia
- Om Records
- PIAS
- Playground Music Scandinavia
- Pledis Entertainment
- Pony Canyon
- Interglobal Music (Pony Canyon MY)
- Leafage
- Secretly Canadian
- Service
- Sincerely Yours
- TC Music
- TVT Records
- Ultra Records
- XL Recordings
- Yejeon Media
- YG Entertainment (until 2012)
Artists
(Updated as of December 2020)
Current artists
- Ice Seguerra (2015–present)
- Angelina Cruz (2016–present)
- Better Days (2017–present)
- Christian Bautista (2009–present)
- Claudia Barretto (2016–present)
- Donny Pangilinan (2017–present)
- Dotty's World (2018–present)
- Elmo Magalona (2015–present
- Gary Valenciano (1983–present)[3]
- Imago (band) (2006-2010; 2019-present)
- Janina Vela (2017–present)
- JKris (2018–present)
- Julie Anne San Jose (2017–present)
- Kurei (2019-present)
- Kyle Juliano (2017–present)
- Mark Oblea (2017–present)
- Maine Mendoza (2017–present)
- Noel Cabangon (2009–present)
- Paolo Mallari (2017–present)
- Paolo Sandejas (2018–present)
- Parokya ni Edgar (1993–present)
- Shanti Dope (2017–present)
- Sponge Cola (2006–present)
- TALA (2017–present)
- COLN (2019-present)
- The Knobs (2020–present)
- Kemrie (2020–present)
- Dimples Romana (2020–present)
- Coleen Garcia (2021–present)
- Jasmine Curtis-Smith (2021–present)
Mustard Music (sublabel)
- Good Kid$ (2018–present)
- Issa Rodriguez (2018–present)
- Joey tha Boy (2018–present)
- The Ransom Collective (2019-present)
- Timmy Albert (2019-present)
- Barq (Arkin Magalona) (2019-present)
- La Playa (2019-present)
Former artists
- APO Hiking Society
- Celeste Legaspi
- The Company (2015–2017)
- Rico Blanco (2015-2017)
- Willy Garte
- Roel Cortez
- Hotdog
- Itchyworms
- Kamikazee (2005–2015)
- Karylle (2001–2008)
- Masta Plann
- Orange and Lemons
- Gino Padilla
- Willie Revillame (2002–2005)
- Milyo Naryo
- Shamrock (2005–2010)
- Max Surban
- Universal Motion Dancers
- Nexxus
- Neocolours (1987-1994)
- Wadab
- George Yang
- Flavors
- Jed Madela (2003–2013)
- Samantha Chavez
- Nina (2010–2012)
- Geneva Cruz
- Nikki Gil (2014–2015)
- Silent Sanctuary (2006–2012)
- Dingdong Avanzado (2004–2007)
- Jessa Zaragoza (2004–2007)
- Lani Misalucha (2006–2014)
- Alden Richards (2013–2015)
- Jaya (2011–2014)
- Ogie Alcasid (2007–2017)
- Regine Velasquez (2007–2017)
- Sam Concepcion (2007–2017)
- Billy Crawford (2004–2018)
- She's Only Sixteen (2012–2015)
- Gloc-9 (2012–2019)
- Jose Mari Chan (1985–2012)
- Fern. (2017–2020)
Trade name dispute with UMG
Universal Music Group cannot use the Universal name in the Philippines because URPI has the rights for the said trade name. Due to this, UMG currently makes business in the Philippines as MCA Music, Inc., the old worldwide name for UMG.[4]
See also
- PolyEast Records
- Warner Music Group (ex-parent of URPI)
- Universal Music Group (North American label)
References
- Profile of URPI Archived February 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- Universal Records at PARI
- Local Artists Archived February 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- "MCA Music Inc. (Universal Music Philippines)". 2013-03-31. Archived from the original on 2013-03-31. Retrieved 2016-08-07.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)