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 | 
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)
 - Christian Bautista (2009–present)
 - DJ Loonyo (2021–present)
 - Donny Pangilinan (2017–present)
 - Dotty's World (2018–present)
 - Elmo Magalona (2015–present)
 - Gary Valenciano (1983–present)[3]
 - Ice Seguerra (2015–present)
 - 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)
 
Mustard Music (sublabel)
    
- Good Kid$ (2018–2020)
 - 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 (1988–2000)
 - Lyon Smith
 - Wadab
 - George Yang
 - Flavors
 - Willie Revillame (2002–2005)
 - Karylle (2001–2008)
 - Geneva Cruz
 - Jed Madela (2003–2013)
 - Dingdong Avanzado (2004–2007)
 - Jessa Zaragoza (2004–2007)
 - Billy Crawford (2004–2018, moved to VIVA Records)
 - Kamikazee (2005–2015)
 - Shamrock (2005–2010)
 - Lani Misalucha (2006–2010)
 - Silent Sanctuary (2006–2012)
 - Ogie Alcasid (2007–2016, moved to Star Music)
 - Regine Velasquez (2007–2017, returned to VIVA Records)
 - Sam Concepcion (2007–2017, moved to VIVA Records)
 - Nina (2010–2012)
 - Jaya (2011–2014, now based in the US)
 - Gloc-9 (2012–2016)
 - Callalily (2012–2017, moved to O/C Records)
 - Rivermaya (2012–2014)
 - She's Only Sixteen (2012–2015)
 - Alden Richards (2013–2015, moved to GMA Music)
 - Nikki Gil (2014–2015)
 - The Company (2015–2017)
 - Rico Blanco (2015–2017, moved to Sony Music Philippines)
 - Fern. (2017–2020, moved to Island Records Philippines)
 - Claudia Barretto (2016–2020, moved to VIVA Records)
 
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.
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