Universal Records Philippines, Inc. is a Filipino

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produ ...

founded in 1977 as part of

Warner Music Group Warner Music Group Corp. ( d.b.a. Warner Music Group, commonly abbreviated as WMG) is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the " big three" recording companies and t ...

. Since 1992, it is an

independent label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

. The label is currently a member of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry.

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 K-pop (), short for Korean popular music, is a form of popular music originating in South Korea as part of South Korean culture. It includes styles and genres from around the world, such as pop, hip hop, R&B, experimental, rock, jazz, gos ...

albums from September 2009, to be followed by some

J-pop J-pop ( ja, ジェイポップ, ''jeipoppu''; often stylized as J-POP; an abbreviated form of "Japanese popular music"), natively also known simply as , is the name for a form of popular music that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1 ...

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

* 12 Stone Inc. *

GMA Music GMA Music (formerly known as Infiniti Music and GMA Records) is a subsidiary of GMA Network Inc. and is engaged in the production, marketing and distribution of music and concerts. GMA Music is a member of PARI and has the distinction of havin ...

Jesuit Communications Foundation Jesuit Communications Foundation (JesCom) is the media arm of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus. JesCom was founded in 1995 by the late Rev. Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J. It is based in the Jesuit Ateneo de Manila University in Quezo ...

Jesuit Music Ministry The Jesuit Music Ministry (JMM) is a Philippines-based producer and publisher of music for use in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic church. It also manages a group of artists and composers, whose works are widely used in the liturgy of the Holy Mas ...

* Soupstar Music

Foreign

* 618 International Records * AI Entertainment *

All Around the World Productions Xploded Music is a British record label set up by Cris Nuttall and Matt Cadman. The label is a joint venture with Universal, and has developed from their previous partnership with the All Around the World dance music label. All Around the Wor ...

American Laundromat Records American Laundromat Records is an independent record label founded in 2004 by Joe Spadaro. ALR specializes in almost annual indie rock compilation albums, which have included tracks by OK Go, The Dresden Dolls, and The Watson Twins. Compilation t ...

Angular Recording Corporation Angular Recording Corporation was an independent record label founded in New Cross, South East London. It was established in June 2003 by two ex-Goldsmiths College students, Joe Daniel and Joe Margetts, who reclaimed a local Ordnance Survey Tr ...

* Arts & Crafts * Avex Group ** Avex Taiwan **

Avex Asia is a Japanese entertainment conglomerate led by founder Max Matsuura and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1988, the company manages J-pop talents like Ayumi Hamasaki and internet sensation PikoTaro. It has also shifted into other busi ...

***

Armada Music Armada Music is a Dutch independent record label that specialises in releasing electronic dance music. The name Armada derives from the first two letters of the founders' first names: Armin van Buuren, Maykel Piron and David Lewis. Signed a ...

***

Johnny's Entertainment is a Japanese talent agency, formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962, which trains and promotes groups of male entertainers known as . History 1962–1989 In 1962, Kitagawa launched his first group, Johnnys. In its early days, Kitagawa's agency rent ...

*** Kontor Records *** / Major Chord Records ***

Purple Communication SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies where it was established in 1995 by record executive and record producer Lee Soo-man. The company ha ...

***

S.M. Entertainment SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies where it was established in 1995 by record executive and record producer Lee Soo-man. The company ha ...

***

Vandit Vandit Records is a German record label founded in 1999 by Paul van Dyk. Its first release was van Dyk's own tracks "Another Way" and "Avenue". The Berlin-based record label is largely focused on trance and progressive house. The label has been ...

* Beggars Banquet Records * Blanco y Negro Records *

Bonnier Amigo Music Group Cosmos Music, formerly Bonnier Amigo Music Group (BAMG), is an independent record company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Bonnier Amigo Music Group was formed in 2001 when the record company and distributor Amigo Musik merged with the record company ...

* Brickhouse Direct *

Cooking Vinyl Cooking Vinyl is a British independent record label, based in Acton, London, England, founded in 1986 by former manager and booking agent Martin Goldschmidt and business partner Pete Lawrence. Goldschmidt remains the current owner and chairman ...

** Take Me to the Hospital * Domino Records *

Edel Music Edel is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include: Surname: * Abraham Edel (1908–2007), North American philosopher and ethicist * Alfred William Edel (c. 1930–2005), American television news presenter * Apoula Edel ...

Elefant Records Elefant Records is an independent record label based in Madrid, Spain. History Elefant Records was founded in 1989 by Luis Calvo as an offshoot of a fanzine he produced called "La Línea del Arco". In 2014, the label's 25th anniversary was celeb ...

* FNC Music * Geneon Entertainment (music division) * Imperial Records * Instant Karma * Kitty-Yo *

Labrador Records Labrador Records is a Sweden-based record label, specializing in indie pop and the twee subgenre. History Labrador was founded by Bengt Rahm in 1997 in Malmö, modeled on niche British record companies and Swedish fanzines like A Zero One and B ...

* Liberation Music *

Licking Fingers Licking Fingers is a Swedish independent record label run by and affiliated with The Concretes, a Swedish indie-pop band. It was formed in Stockholm sometime between 1997 and 1999. The Concretes and Frida Hyvönen have released music through this im ...

* LOEN Entertainment ** Stardom Entertainment *

LTM Recordings LTM Recordings (originally les temps modernes) is a British independent record label founded in 1983, and best known for reissues of artists and music from 1978 to the present day, as well as modern classical and avant-garde composition. The la ...

* Matador Records *

Moshi Moshi Records Moshi Moshi Records is a small London-based record label founded in 1998 by Adrian Pike, Michael McClatchey and Stephen Bass. The label has released music by bands including Lykke Li, Fimber Bravo, Bloc Party, Hot Chip, Late of the Pier, Hot ...

* NeoMONDE Productions *

NH Media NH Media (also known as NHemg) (, NH stands for Nam Hee) is a South Korean entertainment agency founded in 1998 by Kim Nam-hee. In May 2016, Signal Entertainment Group acquired 50% of the company. Former artists * UN (2000–2005) * Paran (200 ...

Nippon Columbia , often pronounced ''Korombia'', operating internationally as , is a Japanese record label founded in 1910 as Nipponophone Co., Ltd. It affiliated itself with the Columbia Graphophone Company of the United Kingdom and adopted the standard UK C ...

* Om Records *

PIAS PIAS or Pias may refer to: * PIAS Group, a UK music company ** PIAS Recordings (Play It Again Sam), an independent record label based in London and owned by the PIAS Entertainment Group * PIAS Group, a Japanese cosmetic company * Protein inhibitor ...

* Playground Music Scandinavia *

Pledis Entertainment Pledis Entertainment () is a South Korean entertainment company founded by Han Sung-Soo in 2007. The label is home to actress Nana, Hwang Min-hyun, Baekho, and K-pop groups Seventeen and Fromis 9. Its name originates from the pleiades, a star cl ...

Pony Canyon , also known by the shorthand form , is a Japanese mass media publishing company founded on October 1, 1966. The company publishes mainly physical home media on compact discs, including music, films and TV shows and video games. It is affiliate ...

** Interglobal Music (Pony Canyon MY) ** Leafage * Secretly Canadian *

Service Service may refer to: Activities * Administrative service, a required part of the workload of university faculty * Civil service, the body of employees of a government * Community service, volunteer service for the benefit of a community or a pu ...

Sincerely Yours Sincerely Yours may refer to: Film * ''Sincerely Yours'' (film), a 1955 American romantic music comedy featuring Liberace * '' Sincerely Yours...'', a 1985 Soviet comedy Music * Sincerely Yours (record label), a Swedish record label Albums * ' ...

* TC Music *

TVT Records TVT Records (Tee-Vee Tunes) was an American record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 24-year history, the label released 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, ...

Ultra Records Ultra Records is an American record label formed in New York City in 1995 by former PolyGram and Virgin Records executive Patrick Moxey. As of December 23, 2012, Ultra entered a global partnership with Sony Music, giving its artists access to ...

XL Recordings XL Recordings is a British independent record label founded in 1989 by Tim Palmer and Nick Halkes. It has been ran and co-owned by Richard Russell since 1996. It forms part of the Beggars Group. Although only releasing an average of six album ...

* Yejeon Media * YG Entertainment (until 2012)

Artists

Current artists

* Angelina Cruz (2016–present) * Better Days (2017–present) *

Christian Bautista Christian Joseph Morata Bautista (born October 19, 1981) is a Filipino singer, actor, host, and model. He was a finalist of ''Star in a Million'', a Philippine reality show aired on ABS-CBN channel, winning 4th place in the competition in 2003. ...

(2009–present) * DJ Loonyo (2021–present) * Donny Pangilinan (2017–present) * Dotty's World (2018–present) * Elmo Magalona (2015–present) *

Gary Valenciano Edgardo Jose Santiago Valenciano (, born August 6, 1964), also known as Gary V., is a Filipino singer-songwriter, dancer, musician, actor, music producer and television host. Valenciano has released 39 albums, and won the Awit Award for "Bes ...

(1983–present) *

Gloc-9 Aristotle Condenuevo Pollisco (born October 18, 1977), known professionally as Gloc-9, is a Filipino rapper, singer, and songwriter. Regarded as one of the best Filipino rappers of all-time, his fast-flowing vocal style has made him one of th ...

(2012–present) *

I Belong to the Zoo I Belong to the Zoo is a Filipino indie pop rock band. I Belong to the Zoo started as a solo folk project by Argee Guerrero. After the success of their debut studio album, Guerrero expended the project into a band with Simon Clariza and Lee De Ve ...

(2022–present) *

Ice Seguerra Cariza "Ice" Yamson Seguerra (born September 17, 1983), formerly and still known professionally as Aiza Seguerra, is a Filipino actor, singer-songwriter, director and guitarist. Initially coming out as a lesbian in 2007, Seguerra now identifies ...

(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 Kyle Juliano is a Filipino pop singer that first published his covers on Facebook. He released his first singles "Malapit Pa Rin" (a rendition of the song by Piolo Pascual Piolo Jose Nonato Pascual (, born January 12, 1977) is a Filipino f ...

(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 Parokya ni Edgar (lit: Edgar's Parish) is a Filipino band formed in 1993. The band is known for its original rock novelty songs and often satirical covers of popular songs both foreign and local. The band is adept at playing in various musica ...

(1993–present) *

Shanti Dope Sean Patrick Ramos (born April 15, 2001), known professionally as Shanti Dope, is a Filipino rapper, singer and songwriter. He is known for his songs "Nadarang", "Shantidope", "MAU", and "Amatz". Shanti Dope started writing verses in 2013 fol ...

(2017–present) * Sponge Cola (2006–present) * TALA (2017–present) * COLN (2019-present) * The Knobs (2020–present) * Kemrie Barcenas (2020–present)

Mustard Music (sublabel)

* Good Kid$ (2018–2020) * Issa Rodriguez (2018–present) * Joey tha Boy (2018–present) *

The Ransom Collective The Ransom Collective (also known as TRC and originally known as Kian Ransom) are a Filipino indie folk band known for their "spirited music that makes for perfect adventure tunes." The band, which consists of Kian Ransom (vocals/guitars), Jer ...

(2019-present) * Timmy Albert (2019-present) * Barq (Arkin Magalona) (2019-present) * La Playa (2019-present)

Former artists

APO Hiking Society The Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, later popularly known as APO Hiking Society, or simply APO, was a Filipino musical group and one of the pillars of Original Pilipino Music (Original Pilipino Music, OPM) composed of Danny Javier†, Jim Pa ...

(now disbanded) *

Celeste Legaspi Celeste Kalugdan Legaspi Gallardo (born March 18, 1950) is a Filipina singer, actress, film and theatre producer, and an advocate for artists' rights. Her singles and albums reached gold or platinum status during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Sh ...

* Samantha Chavez * Willy Garte *

Roel Cortez Roel Cortez (born Roel Corpuz; November 13, 1957 – April 1, 2015) was a Filipino singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the 1980s due to his Tagalog hit songs such as "Napakasakit, Kuya Eddie", "Dalagang Probinsyana", "Pinay sa Japan" and ...

Sheryl Cruz Sheryl Rose Anna Marie Sonora Cruz (born April 5, 1974), better known as Sheryl Cruz, is a Filipino actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Divina Ferrer in 2007's television drama series ''Sinasamba Kita'', as Valeria in '' Bakekang ...

* Hotdog (now disbanded) * Itchyworms (still performing) * Masta Plann (now currently bases in California] * Orange and Lemons * Gino Padilla * Milyo Naryo * Max Surban *

Universal Motion Dancers Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal ** Universal TV, a t ...

* The New Everlasting Band * Jaymie Baby * Nexxus *

Jose Mari Chan Jose Mari Lim Chan (; born March 11, 1945) is a Filipino singer, TV host, songwriter and businessman in the sugar industry. He is currently chairman and CEO of Binalbagan Isabela Sugar Company, Inc. (BISCOM) in Negros Occidental and A. Chan Su ...

(1985–2012, still performing) *

Neocolours Neocolours is a Filipino rock band formed in 1987, out of the remnants of a mid-1980s vocal group, in Manila, Philippines. Founding members were: Ito Rapadas (vocalist), Jimmy Antiporda (keyboard), Marvin Querido (2nd keyboards), Josel Jimenez ...

(1988–2000) * Lyon Smith * Wadab * George Yang (now chief executive of McDonald's Philippines) * Flavors * Willie Revillame (2002–2005) *

Karylle Ana Karylle Padilla Tatlonghari (born March 22, 1981), known mononymously as a Karylle, is a Filipino singer, actress, TV host and musical theatre performer. She is heralded as "''OPMs Showbiz Royalty''". She notably received a nomination for ...

(2001–2008) * Geneva Cruz (formerly from Smokey Mountain; moved to Curve Entertainment) *

Jed Madela John Edward Tiña Tajanlangit (born July 14, 1977), professionally known as Jed Madela, is a Filipino singer, recording artist, songwriter, TV host, entertainer, and occasional actor. He was the first Filipino to win the World Championships o ...

(2003–2013) * Dingdong Avanzado (2004–2007) * Jessa Zaragoza (2004–2007) * Billy Crawford (2004–2018, moved to

VIVA Records Viva may refer to: Companies and organisations * Viva (network operator), a Dominican mobile network operator * Viva Air, a Spanish airline taken over by flag carrier Iberia * Viva Air Dominicana * VIVA Bahrain, a telecommunication company * V ...

) *

Kamikazee Kamikazee or KMKZ is a Filipino rock band formed in 2000. The band, originally known all throughout its career as a quintet, is currently composed of Jay Contreras (lead vocals), Jomal Linao (lead guitar and vocals), Led Tuyay (guitar), Puto As ...

(2005–2015) *

Shamrock A shamrock is a young sprig, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. The name ''shamrock'' comes from Irish (), which is the diminutive of ...

(2005–2010) *

Lani Misalucha Lani Bayot Misalucha (; born Lani Dimalanta Bayot; August 3, 1969) is a Filipino singer who performs pop, rock, jazz, soul, rhythm and blues, and operatic arias. Her ability to sing across several genres gave her the title "Asia's Nightingale ...

(2006–2010) * Silent Sanctuary (2006–2012) * Ogie Alcasid (2007–2016, moved to

Star Music Star Music (stylized in lowercase as starmusic; formerly known as Star Records), is a record label in the Philippines owned and operated by media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corporation. It was formerly a separate company operating as a wholly owned su ...

) * Regine Velasquez (2007–2017, moved to

) * Sam Concepcion (2007–2017, moved to

) *

Nina Nina may refer to: * Nina (name), a feminine given name and surname Acronyms *National Iraqi News Agency, a news service in Iraq * Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, on the campus of Norwegian University of Science and Technology *No income, ...

(2010–2012) *

Jaya Jaya may refer to: Media *''Jaya'', self titled albums by Jaya (singer), released in 1989, 1996 and 2001 * ''Jaya'' (film), a 2002 Indian Tamil film Mythology *''Jaya'', a name of Karna in Mahabharata; the core portion of the ''Mahabharata'' ...

(2011–2014, now based in the US) *

Callalily Lily (stylized in all caps, formerly known as Callalily) is a pop rock band from the Philippines formed in 2005. The band is currently composed of Lem Belaro, Aaron Ricafrente, Nathan Reyes, Joshua Bulot, and Alden Acosta, the band's original le ...

(2012–2017, moved to O/C Records) * Rivermaya (2012–2014, returned to

Sony Music Philippines Sony Music Philippines, Inc. is a record label based in the Philippines, which was founded in 1995 as an imprint of the international music label Sony Music Entertainment and a part of its Asia-Pacific chain. After the closure of the local labe ...

) *

She's Only Sixteen SOS (formerly She's Only Sixteen) is a 4-piece alternative rock band from the Philippines. The band is composed of Roberto Seña on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Andrew Panopio on lead guitar, Anjo Silvoza on bass, and King Puentespina on drums. ...

(2012–2015) * Alden Richards (2013–2015, moved to

) * Nikki Gil (2014–2015) * The Company (2015–2017) *

Rico Blanco Rico Rene Granados Blanco (born March 17, 1973) is a Filipino singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor, endorser and entrepreneur. He began his career as one of the founding members, and served as the chief songwriter, ...

(2015–2017, moved to

) * Fern. (2017–2020, moved to Island Records Philippines) * Claudia Barretto (2016–2020, moved to

)

Trade name dispute with UMG

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 ...

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

References

External links

Official site
* * {{Authority control Philippine independent record labels Record labels established in 1977 Companies based in Quezon City Philippine companies established in 1977 Privately held companies