Star Music

Lore & Background

Star Music began commercial operations in September 1995 with an exclusive distribution agreement with Sony Music Entertainment Philippines, but this deal excluded Metro Manila, causing distribution problems. In August 1996, the label signed a three-year distribution agreement with JML Records, a local independent label focused on OPM pop/folk acts, to distribute its catalog and enter the Metro Manila market. Later that year, it renewed its deal with Sony to include thirty dealerships in Metro Manila, significantly boosting its presence there. By December 1996, the label had twenty signed artists.

In March 2005, Star Music collaborated with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to produce an all-star version of the tourism anthem "Pilipino Sa Turismo'y Aktibo," featuring artists like Gary Valenciano, Jamie Rivera, and Gloc-9, but the song lacked extensive network support and became obscure. In 2007, Star Music launched Acel, former vocalist of Moonstar88, as the country's first digital artist. In 2015, the label acquired copyrights to 116 original compositions by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, including songs popularized by VST & Co., Sharon Cuneta, and Nora Aunor.

In 2014, Star Music updated its logo and shifted to a digital-first approach, launching a music downloading website, releasing songs on iTunes and Spotify, and revamping its YouTube channel to adapt to digital trends. Gloc-9 had already been signed to Star Music earlier, releasing albums under the label starting in 2009, including hits like "Simpleng Tao" and "Hinahanap Ng Puso."

Reader's Guide

Star Music's significance lies in its evolution from a broadcast company's subsidiary into a major Filipino record label that adapted to digital music consumption. Its early struggles with distribution in Metro Manila were overcome through licensing deals with local and international labels, including JML Records and Taiwan's Rock Records, which helped improve its market profile. The label pioneered digital artist launches in the Philippines with Acel in 2007 and embraced online platforms in 2014, reflecting industry shifts. Its acquisition of the Sotto-Sotto-Leon catalog in 2015 preserved a significant body of Filipino popular music. Star Music's network of sub-labels, such as Tarsier Records and StarPop, allowed it to cater to diverse genres and audiences. The label's role in launching and re-signing artists like Gloc-9 underscores its lasting impact on the Philippine music industry. Its membership in PARI and international licensing through Warner Chappell Music further solidify its position as a key player in the country's recording industry.

Did You Know?

• Star Music was founded on February 20, 1995 as Star Records with the corporate name Star Recording, Inc.
• In 2007, Star Music launched Acel, the former vocalist of Moonstar88, as the country's first digital artist.
• In 2015, Star Music acquired copyrights to 116 original compositions by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon.
• Gloc-9 has been signed to Star Music since 2009, releasing albums like G9 and Ako Si... under the label.

Origins & the Distribution Puzzle (1995–1997)

Star Recording, Inc. was established on February 20, 1995, as Star Records, born from ABS-CBN Corporation's ambition to expand beyond broadcasting into a full media enterprise. Commercial operations kicked off in September 1995 with an exclusive distribution pact with Sony Music Entertainment Philippines—though that deal conspicuously excluded Metro Manila, creating an immediate logistical headache for the young label. To patch that gap, Star Music turned to licensing. In August 1996 it inked a three-year agreement with local rock label JML Records, gaining access to a catalogue of roughly thirty titles. It followed with deals with foreign independents: Beaver Music in the Netherlands, Music of Life in the UK, and Rox in Belgium. By October 1996, a renewed Sony arrangement brought thirty Metro Manila dealerships into the fold, finally giving the label a meaningful capital-city footprint. A June 1997 distribution and licensing deal with Taiwan's Rock Records further broadened the catalogue, pulling in products from around forty independent European and American labels and lending the roster a more international sheen.

Corporate Restructuring & the Digital Pivot

In 2013, Star Recording, Inc. and its publishing arm Star Songs, Inc. were both folded into ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., ending their existence as standalone subsidiaries. The following year marked a visual and strategic reset: the long-standing Star Records logo was retired, and the label rebranded under the Star Music name to signal its broader media ambitions. That same year the company launched its own music-downloading website, began distributing tracks through iTunes and Spotify, and overhauled its YouTube channel—moves explicitly framed as a response to shifting consumer habits around digital music and video. The 2015 twentieth-anniversary celebration brought a notable catalog acquisition: Star Music secured the copyrights to approximately 116 original compositions by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, a body of work that includes beloved tracks like "Ipagpatawad Mo," "Tayo'y Magsayawan," and "Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko," songs once popularized by the 1970s group VST & Co. as well as Sharon Cuneta and Nora Aunor.

A Patchwork of Sub-labels & Artist Rosters

Star Music has never operated as a single monolithic imprint. Over the years it has maintained a constellation of sub-labels, each targeting a different slice of the Philippine music market. Active imprints include StarPop, which has been home to artists ranging from Alexa Ilacad and Anji Salvacion to Vice Ganda and the group 1621 BC; Tarsier Records, which has championed singer-songwriters like Kyla, KZ Tandingan, and Iñigo Pascual; DNA Music, with acts such as Nameless Kids and Trisha Denise; and Old School Records, home to RJZON and Chloe Redondo. Other active banners like Star Events, Star Home Video, Lodi Records, Star Magic Records, Inspire Music, and Cat Records round out the portfolio. The label's history also includes now-defunct or inactive imprints such as Ear Stab for rock and alternative acts, NuGen Records for independent artists, Startraxx Records for film and television soundtracks, and Saucy Music for mass-appeal performers. This multi-label architecture has allowed Star Music to court a remarkably wide spectrum of Filipino musical taste under one corporate umbrella.

Milestones, Comebacks & Industry Standing

Several moments punctuate Star Music's timeline. In March 2005, the label assembled a star-studded tourism anthem—featuring Gary Valenciano, Jamie Rivera, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Vhong Navarro, Piolo Pascual, Erik Santos, Gloc-9, Sheryn Regis, and Heart Evangelista, with additional appearances by ABS-CBN personalities like Jericho Rosales, Kris Aquino, Claudine Barretto, Jiro Manio, and Charo Santos-Concio—in partnership with the Philippine Tourism Authority. Despite the talent on display, the track faded into obscurity due to limited network promotion. In 2007, Star Music made headlines by launching Acel, former vocalist of the rock band Moonstar88, as the country's first digital artist. A more personal milestone arrived on January 31, 2016, when rapper Gloc-9 re-signed with Star Music after a decade away; the label had originally introduced him to mainstream audiences with the 2003 album G9 and the 2005 release Ako Si..., which produced hits like "Simpleng Tao." Star Music also maintains membership in PARI, the Philippine Association of the Record Industry, anchoring its standing within the national recording-industry community.