Universal Records Philippines, Inc. is a Philippine record label founded in 1977 as part of Warner Music Group. It has been an independent label since 1992. The label is currently a member of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry.

History

WEA Records Philippines Inc. was founded in the Philippines as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group's East Asia division. The company served as the licensee of WEA in the Philippines for 15 years before undergoing a name change to Universal Records Philippines Inc. in 1992. The company's new name reflected a shift in focus from being just a licensee of WEA to becoming a full-fledged independent record label. As Universal Records Philippines Inc., the company continued to build its reputation in the industry and signed various prominent local artists, such as Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez, and Christian Bautista. In 2003, the company signed the pop-rock band Sponge Cola, which became a major success in the local music scene. The band's debut album, "Palabas," achieved double platinum status and won several awards, including Album of the Year at the NU107 Rock Awards. In 2018, Universal Records Philippines Inc. launched Mustard Music, a sub-label focused on the growth of homegrown indie acts. The new label aimed to provide a platform for emerging Filipino artists to showcase their music and reach a wider audience. Mustard Music's roster includes promising acts such as Janine Teñoso, Keiko Necesario, and Arthur Nery.

Artists

Universal Records Philippines Inc. has signed and worked with numerous prominent Filipino artists throughout its history. Some of the label's notable acts include:

Distributed labels

As of 2011 :

Local

Foreign

Artists

Current artists

Mustard Music (sublabel)

Former artists

Trade name dispute with UMG

Universal Music Group cannot use the Universal name in the Philippines because URPI owns rights to that brand name. Thus, the UMG business in the Philippines became known as MCA Music, Inc., UMG's former global trade name. On November 3, 2021, MCA Music changed its current name to UMG Philippines.