Philippine record label
Warner Music Philippines (WMP) is a record label in the Philippines. It is a regional branch of the multinational music conglomerate Warner Music Group.
Founded in 1977, the company gained its self-distributed status and has since began releases of several Filipino music artists and bands. The label has been switched to digital-only releases since the 2010s.
History
WMG, then known as WEA International, established WEA Records Philippines under a distribution/license agreement for 15 years with a local group led by Bella Dy Tan.
In 1992, Warner Music officially set up its own local branch, after its distributor gained its own independent status and became Universal Records. Its initial offices were at the Ma. Daniel Building in Malate, Manila.
WMP has been signed artists throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including Lea Salonga, Side A, Alamid, Barbie's Cradle, David Pomeranz, Nina, Kitchie Nadal, Christian Bautista, Sitti, and Kamikazee.[1] In 2003, WMP transferred its offices to the Wynsum Corporate Plaza in Ortigas Center and then to the UnionBank Plaza in the same district.
In the 2010s, amid the widespread of piracy issues, WMP suffered a decline in revenues.[2] Since then, it began transitioned its catalog of releases to digital-only thru global streaming music platforms like Spotify. It also launched its digital site, PressPlay.ph and by that same period, moved its offices to the EcoTower in Bonifacio Global City.
In 2019, WMP signed new artists and bands like Quest, Leanne & Naara, Keiko Necesario and St. Wolf.[3]
In 2020, WMP signed a new partnership with Cagayan de Oro-based 9K Records, a local label featuring artists from southern parts of the Philippines.[4] The same year, WMP also signed an agreement with the PhilPop Fest Foundation and Smart Communications to host the 2020 edition of the annual PhilPop competition.[5]
In 2021, WMG appointed Sarah Ismail as the new Managing Director of WMP.[6] Also in 2021, WMP signed agreement with Sora Music Group, a local EDM label founded by DJ/producer Jenil, as its sublabel.[7]
In October 2021, Warner Music Philippines launched Global Pinoy Music (GLOPM), an initiative movement to expand Filipino music worldwide in collaboration of OPM artists with international-based Filipino artists and producers.[8]
