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) | |
|---|---|
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| 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 VCD 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 the 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 best-selling 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
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
Current artists
- Angelina Cruz (2016–present)
- Better Days (2017–present)
- Billy West (2015–present)
- Brian McKnight (2021–present)
- Christian Bautista (2009–present)
- Claudia Barretto (2016–present)
- DJ Loonyo (2021–present)
- Dimples Romana (2021–present)
- Donny Pangilinan (2017–present)
- Dotty's World (2018–present)
- Elmo Magalona (2015–present)
- Gary Valenciano (1983–present)[3]
- Half Life Half Death (2021–present)
- Ice Seguerra (2015–present)
- Imago (band) (2006–2010; 2019-present)
- Janina Vela (2017–present)
- Jasmine Curtis-Smith (2021–present)
- JKris (2018–present)
- Julie Anne San Jose (2017–present)
- Karencitta (2016–present)
- Kiana Valenciano (2014–present)
- Kurei (2019-present)
- Kyle Juliano (2017–present)
- Mark Oblea (2017–present)
- Maine Mendoza (2017–present)
- Michael Yantzi (2021–present)
- Monkey Majik (band) (2021–present)
- Noel Cabangon (2009–present)
- Nicky Jam (2021–present)
- Paolo Mallari (2017–present)
- Paolo Sandejas (2018–present)
- Parokya ni Edgar (1993–present)
- Ria Atayde (2021–present)
- Shanti Dope (2017–present)
- Sponge Cola (2006–present)
- TALA (2017–present)
- Tomokazu Seki (2021–present)
- COLN (2019-present)
- The Knobs (2020–present)
- Kemrie (2020–present)
- Yohan Hwang (2017–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
- Samantha Chavez
- Willy Garte
- Roel Cortez
- Hotdog
- Itchyworms
- Masta Plann
- Orange and Lemons
- Gino Padilla
- Milyo Naryo
- Max Surban
- Universal Motion Dancers
- Nexxus
- Jose Mari Chan (1985–2012)
- Neocolours (1987-1994)
- Lyon Smith
- Wadab
- George Yang
- Flavors
- Willie Revillame (2002–2005)
- Jed Madela (2003–2013)
- Kamikazee (2005–2015)
- Karylle (2001–2008)
- Shamrock (2005–2010)
- Geneva Cruz
- Silent Sanctuary (2006–2012)
- Dingdong Avanzado (2004–2007)
- Jessa Zaragoza (2004–2007)
- Billy Crawford (2004–2018)
- Lani Misalucha (2006–2014)
- Ogie Alcasid (2007–2017)
- Regine Velasquez (2007–2017)
- Sam Concepcion (2007–2017)
- She's Only Sixteen (2012–2015)
- Nikki Gil (2014–2015)
- Nina (2010–2012)
- Jaya (2011–2014)
- Alden Richards (2013–2015)
- Gloc-9 (2012–2016)
- Callalily (2012–2017)
- The Company (2015–2017)
- Rico Blanco (2015-2017)
- Fern. (2017–2020)
Trade name dispute with UMG
Universal Music Group cannot use the Universal name in the Philippines as URPI has the rights for the said trade name. With this, UMG currently makes business in the Philippines as MCA Music, Inc., the former global trade 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
- [http://universalrecords.com.ph/local.htm 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)
