Universal Records (Philippines)
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 |
Universal Records Philippines Inc. is a Filipino record label founded in 1977 as a part of Warner Music Group.[1] Since 1992, it is an independent label.
History
URPI was founded in 1977 as WEA Records Philippines Inc. The company was the licensee of WEA in 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.
It is a member of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry.[2]
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 some of the finest, most respected artists.
Distributed Labels
As of 2011 :
Local
- 12 Stone Inc.
- GMA Records
- Jesuit Communications Foundation
- Jesuit Music Ministry
- NSoupstar 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
- 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
(Updated as of April 5, 2016.)
Universal Records (Main)
- Aiza Seguerra (2015—present)
- Banda ni Kleggy (2013—present)
- Bassilyo (2013—present)
- Billy Crawford (2004—present)
- Callalily (2012—present)
- Chris Cantada (2012—present; 2006—2008 with Sponge Cola)
- Christian Bautista (2009—present)
- Elmo Magalona (2015—present)
- Emmanuelle (2010—present)
- Gary Valenciano (1983—present)[3]
- JayR (2003—present)
- Jaya (2011—present)
- Jensen Gomez (2012—present)
- Jose Mari Chan (1969—present)
- Jordan Bautista (2012—present)
- Kimpoy Feliciano (2012—present)
- Kris Aquino (2007—present)
- Krizza Neri (2012—present)
- Malay (2012—present)
- Nikki Gil (2014—present)
- Neocolours (Reunited, 2012—present)
- Noel Cabangon (2009—present)
- Ogie Alcasid (2008—present)
- Parokya ni Edgar (1993—present)
- Paulo Avelino (2012—present)
- Richard Poon (2012—present)
- Rivermaya (2013—present)
- Runmanila (2012—present)
- Sam Concepcion (2007—present)
- She's Only Sixteen (2012—present)
- Six Part Invention (2012—present)
- Sponge Cola (2006—present)
Bellhaus Entertainment
- Brenan (2009—present)
- Rhian Ramos (2009—present)
- P.Y.T. (2009—present)
- Mocha Girls (2012—present)
Homeworkz Entertainment Services
- Jay R (2003—present)
- Chelo Aestrid (2011—present)
- Q-York (2011—present)
- Kley (2013—present)
- Salbakuta (2013—present)
Former artists
- APO Hiking Society (moved to The Thirdline last 2009, now inactive)
- Pops Fernandez (moved to MCA Music Philippines)
- Celeste Legaspi (still performing)
- Willy Garte (deceased)
- Roel Cortez (deceased)
- Hot Dog (still performing)
- Itchyworms (moved to Sony Music Entertainment, now currently Independent Label)
- Kamikazee (2005-2015; now inactive and recently disbanded in 2015)
- Karylle (2001-2008; moved to PolyEast Records, now currently host of It's Showtime)
- Masta Plann (now inactive)
- Orange and Lemons (now inactive)
- Gino Padilla (moved to Vicor Music Corporation)
- Willie Revillame (2002-2005; moved to Star Music and later Viva Records now with GMA Records)
- Shamrock (2005-2010; moved to Viva Records and now to Star Music)
- Universal Motion Dancers (now inactive)
- Wadab (now inactive)
- George Yang (still performing, and now currently a Chairman & CEO of McDonalds Philippines)
- Flavors (now inactive)
- Jed Madela (2003-2013; moved to Star Music)
- Samantha Chavez (now married and now based in California)
- Nina Girado (2010-2012; moved to Viva Records)
- Geneva Cruz (moved to GMA Records)
- Silent Sanctuary (2001-2012; moved to Ivory Music & Video)
- Dingdong Avanzado (2004-2007; moved to Viva Records)
- Jessa Zaragoza (2004-2007; moved to MCA Music Philippines and now to GMA Records)
- Lani Misalucha (2006-2014; moved to Star Music)
- Alden Richards (2013-2015; moved to GMA Records)
- Gloc9 (2012-2016; returned to Star Music)
- Regine Velasquez (2006—2015; returned to Viva Records)
- Max Surban (moved to Vicor)
Trade name dispute with UMG
Universal Music Group cannot use the Universal name in the Philippines because URPI has the rights for the said trade name. Due to this, UMG currently makes business in the Philippines as MCA Music, Inc., the old worldwide name for UMG.[4]
See also
- PolyEast Records
- Warner Music Group (ex-parent of URPI)
- Universal Records (North American label)
References
- ↑ Profile of URPI Archived February 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Universal Records at PARI
- ↑ Local Artists Archived February 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "MCA Music Inc. (Universal Music Philippines)". 2013-03-31. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
External links
- Official Site
- Universal Records on Facebook
- Universal Records on Twitter
- Universal Records on Blogger
- Universal Records' channel on YouTube