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]

Not to be confused with Universal Records (1995−2005).
For the Philippine branch of this label's former parent, see Warner Music Philippines. For the Philippine branch of Universal Music Group, see UMG Philippines.

Universal Records (Philippines)
Parent companyWarner Music Group (1977–1992)
Independent (1992–present)
Founded1977 (as WEA Records Philippines)
FounderWarner 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 websiteuniversalrecords.com.ph

History

URPI was founded in 1977 as WEA Records Philippines Inc. The company was the licensee of WEA in the Philippines for 15 years. However, 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 has risen 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 were announced in 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

Foreign

Artists

Current artists

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

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 business in the Philippines was then known as MCA Music, Inc., the former global trade name for UMG.[4]

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

See also

References
  1. Profile of URPI Archived February 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Universal Records at PARI
  3. [http://universalrecords.com.ph/local.htm Local Artists|Archived February 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "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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