Universal Records (Philippines)

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Universal Records (Philippines)
Universal Records Ph.jpg
Parent company Warner Music Group (1977–1992)
Independent (1992–present)
Founded1977 (as WEA Records Philippines)
Founder Warner Music Group
Bella Dy Tan
StatusActive
Distributor(s)self-distributed
GenreVarious
Country of originPhilippines
Location9/F, Universal Tower, 1487 Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Official website universalrecords.com.ph

Universal Records Philippines, Inc. is a Philippine record label founded in 1977 as part of Warner Music Group. [1] It has been an independent label since 1992. The label is currently a member of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry. [2]

Contents

History

WEA Records Philippines Inc. was founded in the Philippines as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group's East Asia division. The company served as the licensee of WEA in the Philippines for 15 years before undergoing a name change to Universal Records Philippines Inc. in 1992. The company's new name reflected a shift in focus from being just a licensee of WEA to becoming a full-fledged independent record label.

As Universal Records Philippines Inc., the company continued to build its reputation in the industry and signed various prominent local artists, such as Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez, and Christian Bautista. In 2003, the company signed the pop-rock band Sponge Cola, which became a major success in the local music scene. The band's debut album, "Palabas," achieved double platinum status and won several awards, including Album of the Year at the NU107 Rock Awards.

In 2018, Universal Records Philippines Inc. launched Mustard Music, a sub-label focused on the growth of homegrown indie acts. The new label aimed to provide a platform for emerging Filipino artists to showcase their music and reach a wider audience. Mustard Music's roster includes promising acts such as Janine Teñoso, Keiko Necesario, and Arthur Nery.

Artists

Universal Records Philippines Inc. has signed and worked with numerous prominent Filipino artists throughout its history. Some of the label's notable acts include:

Previously distributed labels

Local

Foreign

Artists

Current artists

Mustard Music (sublabel)

Former artists

Trade name dispute with UMG

Universal Music Group cannot use the Universal name in the Philippines because URPI owns rights to that brand name. Thus, the UMG business in the Philippines became known as MCA Music, Inc., UMG's former global trade name. [5]

On November 3, 2021, MCA Music changed its current name to UMG Philippines.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Profile of URPI Archived February 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Universal Records at PARI
  3. 1 2 "David Licauco signs with Universal Records". GMA News Online. March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  4. ↑ Local Artists Archived February 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "MCA Music Inc. (Universal Music Philippines)". March 31, 2013. Archived from the original on March 31, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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