UMG Philippines Inc. is a record label based in the Philippines and served as its regional branch of the multinational music corporation,

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...

. Formerly known as MCA Music, the record label previously retained the now-discontinued MCA name on legal purposes because of a trademark dispute with an unrelated label known as

Universal Records Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch–American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...

, which preempted the rights to the word "Universal" for recorded music in the Philippines. However, the company adopted the

moniker A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

"MCA/Universal", much like

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

' home video unit from 1990 to 1997, to simplify identification, even though no formal "Universal" branding is exercised. Despite the naming, the label is known outside the Philippines as Universal Music Philippines. The record label then changed to its current name on November 3, 2021.

History

PolyCosmic Records was formed in 1993 as a

joint venture A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to acces ...

between PolyGram Music Group (Universal Music Group's predecessor, which has 30% of the company's stocks) and a consortium of local businessmen including Dr. James G. Dy (founding chairman of Dyna Products, Inc., which was the local distributor of PolyGram before) and Cosmic Records, another local company founded in 1992 by Ramon Chuaying.

- which would later be involved in the trademark dispute with this company - had the distribution rights, and Chuaying (who is now an executive at Universal) was the company's first

CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

. In 1998, PolyGram N.V. was purchased by

Seagram The Seagram Company Ltd. (which traded as Seagram's) was a Canadian multinational conglomerate formerly headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. Originally a distiller of Canadian whisky based in Waterloo, Ontario, it was once (in the 1990s) the lar ...

's and was merged into

MCA Inc. MCA Inc. (originally an initialism for Music Corporation of America) was an American media conglomerate founded in 1924. Originally a talent agency with artists in the music business as clients, the company became a major force in the film ind ...

, and PolyGram Music Group was merged with MCA Music Entertainment to become

. After the merger, PolyCosmic Records was reincorporated as MCA Music Inc. (Philippines). In 2006, Ricky Ilacad was named the managing director and CEO. MCA Music has a partnership with Smart Communications, Inc. to make music downloads available to phone users via music service Spinnr. In 2020, UMG formally appointed Sindikato Management founder and former Sony Music Philippines A&R consultant Enzo Valdez as managing director, replacing Ilacad. The same year, UMG launched Def Jam Philippines and Island Records Philippines. In 2021, UMG signed a distribution agreement with Off the Record, a local independent label owned by Ilacad. On November 3, 2021, after 23 years as MCA Music Inc., the record label was renamed as UMG Philippines Inc. On the same day, UMG Philippines formally launched its digital consumer-facing brand known as UMUSIC Philippines (umusic.ph). On July 8, 2022, UMG launched its third label Republic Records Philippines.

Artists (past and present)

UMG Philippines (formerly MCA Music)

Def Jam Philippines

Island Records Philippines

Republic Records Philippines

Off the Record (distribution only)

References

External links

* * * * * {{Authority control Philippine record labels Universal Music Group Companies based in Mandaluyong Record labels established in 1993 1993 establishments in the Philippines