Tarsier Records

Tarsier Records is a Philippine record-label imprint established on September 5, 2017 by music producer Chris “Moophs” Lopez. It operates under Star Music, the recording division associated with ABS-CBN Corporation, and is based in Quezon City. The imprint was created with an outward-looking brief: to write, produce, distribute, and promote Philippine music for audiences beyond the domestic market. Rather than presenting itself as a label limited to one sound, Tarsier Records has worked across electronic dance music, rhythm and blues, rap, pop, and related contemporary styles. The label’s launch was marked by an eight-track electronic dance music album and an initial roster that combined established performers with newer talent. Its inaugural artists included Sam Concepcion, Kiana Valenciano, Marion Aunor, and Markus. This mix reflected the imprint’s dual purpose within the Star Music ecosystem: to provide an additional platform for recognized Filipino performers while also developing emerging artists and modern production approaches. Tarsier’s activities have included artist signing, recording, release distribution, promotion, and collaborations intended to place Filipino music in a wider regional and international context. From 2020 onward, Tarsier Records expanded its collaborative activity beyond the Philippines. The label worked with international or internationally connected artists including Brian McKnight Jr., Zee Avi, and Eric Bellinger. These projects reinforced its emphasis on cross-border production and helped associate the imprint with contemporary R&B, electronic, and pop-oriented releases. By 2021, the label was reported to have 33 artists from multiple genres on its roster, demonstrating a broader operating scale than its original launch lineup. In December 2021, it marked this expansion with TY 2021, a virtual concert staged as a year-end celebration. The label’s later visibility was strongly associated with Maki, who signed with Tarsier Records in 2021. His debut extended play, Tanong, achieved significant attention on Spotify in 2023. In the following year, Maki became the first artist to place a number-one song on the relaunched Billboard Philippines Philippines Hot 100 chart, giving Tarsier Records a prominent connection to a notable moment in the renewed Philippine music-chart system. Tarsier Records is therefore best understood as a contemporary artist-development and release imprint within the Star Music and ABS-CBN structure. Its positioning combines Philippine cultural and artistic identity with modern genre flexibility, digital distribution, promotional events, and international collaboration. Publicly documented information does not establish a separate corporate listing, standalone ownership structure, or independent public website for the imprint. Its known identity remains closely tied to Star Music and the wider ABS-CBN media and entertainment group.

Tarsier Records was established on September 5, 2017 by Filipino music producer Chris “Moophs” Lopez. It was created as an imprint of Star Music, which is owned by ABS-CBN Corporation, and is based in Quezon City. Lopez conceived the label as a vehicle for writing, producing, distributing, and promoting Philippine music to a broader international audience. Its creation placed a distinct contemporary-music imprint within the wider Star Music and ABS-CBN entertainment structure. The label launched with an eight-track electronic dance music album. Its first group of artists included established performers Sam Concepcion, Kiana Valenciano, and Marion Aunor, alongside newer artist Markus. The opening roster indicated that Tarsier was intended to combine artist development with commercially oriented releases and to operate across more than one career stage. Although electronic dance music was central to its launch, the imprint subsequently developed a broader genre profile. Beginning in 2020, Tarsier Records increased its engagement with artists from outside the Philippines. Documented collaborators included Brian McKnight Jr., Zee Avi, and Eric Bellinger. These collaborations aligned with the label’s original international ambition and connected its Philippine-based operations with artists associated with overseas audiences and contemporary R&B and pop production. By 2021, Tarsier had grown to a reported roster of 33 artists working in genres such as electronic dance music, R&B, and rap. The label celebrated this expansion with TY 2021, a virtual concert held toward the end of the year. One of the imprint’s notable later developments was the rise of Maki, who signed with Tarsier Records in 2021. His debut extended play, Tanong, drew significant Spotify attention in 2023. In 2024, Maki became the first artist to achieve a number-one track on Billboard Philippines’ relaunched Philippines Hot 100 chart. This achievement associated Tarsier Records with a high-profile milestone in the renewed Philippine charting environment and demonstrated the potential reach of the label’s artist-development model. Publicly documented information identifies Tarsier Records primarily as an imprint rather than as a separately listed or independently structured music company. Its business scope includes artist signings, music production, recording releases, distribution, promotion, cross-border collaborations, and live or virtual promotional events. Known artists associated with the label include AC Bonifacio, Iñigo Pascual, KZ Tandingan, Maki, Sam Concepcion, Marion Aunor, Kiana Valenciano, Markus, Bugoy Drilon, Brian McKnight Jr., Anji Salvacion, and Angela Ken. The label’s documented history supports a positioning centered on contemporary Filipino music, genre diversity, digital visibility, and international cooperation.

• 2024

  Maki reaches the top of the Philippines Hot 100

  [1]Tarsier Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Maki becomes the first artist with a number-one track on Billboard Philippines’ relaunched Philippines Hot 100 chart.

• 2023

  Maki’s Tanong gains streaming success

  [1]Tarsier Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Maki’s debut EP, Tanong, receives significant attention on Spotify.

• 2021

  Roster expands to 33 artists

  [1]Tarsier Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label is reported to have 33 artists across EDM, R&B, rap, and other genres, and stages the TY 2021 virtual concert.

• 2021

  Maki signs with the label

  [1]Tarsier Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Maki joins Tarsier Records and later becomes one of the imprint’s most visible artists.

• 2020

  International collaborations begin

  [1]Tarsier Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Tarsier expands its collaborative work to include artists such as Brian McKnight Jr., Zee Avi, and Eric Bellinger.

• 2017

  Tarsier Records is established

  [1]Tarsier Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Chris “Moophs” Lopez establishes Tarsier Records on September 5 as an imprint of Star Music.

• 2017

  Launch with an electronic dance music album

  [1]Tarsier Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label introduces itself with an eight-track EDM album and an initial roster including Sam Concepcion, Kiana Valenciano, Marion Aunor, and Markus.

A Philippine contemporary-music imprint that develops artists across electronic, pop, R&B, rap, and related genres while pursuing digital reach and international collaboration.

• Music recordings · 2017

  Recorded music releases

  Tarsier Records releases recorded music by Filipino and collaborating international artists. Its documented genre range includes electronic dance music, pop, R&B, rap, and related contemporary styles. Releases are part of the label’s broader effort to develop Philippine music and make it accessible to audiences beyond the domestic market.

• Extended play · 2023

  Tanong

  Tanong is Maki’s debut extended play released through his association with Tarsier Records. The project gained significant Spotify attention in 2023 and became an important part of the artist’s rise within the label’s roster.

• Virtual concert · 2021

  TY 2021

  TY 2021 was a virtual concert organized near the end of 2021 to celebrate the label’s expanded artist community. It reflected Tarsier Records’ use of digital event formats for artist presentation and audience engagement.

• 2020

  Expand cross-border collaborationsStrategy

  Background

  Tarsier Records’ original mission included reaching international audiences, and the imprint began working with foreign or internationally connected artists.

  Action taken

  The label collaborated with Brian McKnight Jr., Zee Avi, and Eric Bellinger.

  Aftermath

  The collaborations broadened the imprint’s international profile and complemented its multi-genre roster.

  Source

• 2017

  Create an internationally oriented contemporary-music imprintStrategy

  Background

  Star Music and founder Chris “Moophs” Lopez established Tarsier Records to write, produce, distribute, and promote Philippine music for a wider international audience.

  Action taken

  The new imprint launched with an EDM-focused album and a mixed roster of established and emerging performers.

  Aftermath

  The label later expanded across genres, developed a larger roster, and pursued collaborations with artists from outside the Philippines.

  Source

1. 1Tarsier Recordsen.wikipedia.org