Moira Dela Torre. Image: Instagram/@moiradelatorre
Viva Music Group (VMG) has acquired the record label Ivory Music and Video Inc., and, with it, its 40-year catalog that includes works by Freddie Aguilar, The Company, MYMP, Side A, Zack Tabudlo and Moira dela Torre. The sale was finalized—for an undisclosed amount—by Viva Communications chair and chief executive officer Vic del Rosario, Jr., Viva Records chief operating officer Tony Ocampo and Ivory president Steven Tan.
The acquisition, Ocampo said, “strengthens Viva’s position” in entertainment as “a propagator of original Pilipino music.” “Ivory makes a most prestigious addition to the Viva catalog,” he said.
The deal gives Viva the entire catalog of recorded music of Ivory and all songs licensed to its music publishing arm, like recordings by Join the Club, Silent Sanctuary, Wolfgang, April Boy Regino, Moonstar 88, Lokal Brown, Gary Granada, Roselle Nava, Orient Pearl and Florante.
The VMG currently owns the libraries of Viva Records, Vicor Music, Telesis Recording and Terno Records, which include songs by Sharon Cuneta, Regine Velasquez, Martin Nievera, Basil Valdez, Sarah Geronimo and Up Dharma Down.
From left: Viva Records COO Tony Ocampo, Viva chair and CEO Vic del Rosario Jr., Ivory president Steven Tan and Viva Records president Verb del Rosario
The group had also invested in and partnered with startup or niche labels like Kean Cipriano’s O/C Records (Arthur Nery, Adie); NexxFriday and Naki Quimson’s WayBettr Music (Deny, Jin Chan); Marion Aunor’s Wild Dream Records, and Jaworski Garcia’s Blacksheep Records (Magnus Haven, Ferodina). — ALLAN POLICARPIO, INQ