Sony Music Entertainment Philippines and Off The Record, a Manila-based indie record label known for nurturing Filipino artists, have announced a new product and distribution partnership to further develop and promote Filipino music.

Under the partnership, SME Philippines will distribute Off The Record's music catalog globally and work together to build strategies in marketing, media promotion, artist development, brand partnership and synchronization.

An industry veteran who has launched the careers of the biggest alternative, pop and crossover artists of the last two decades, Ricky Ilacad founded Off The Record to harness his market-tested expertise to develop Filipino homegrown talents and accelerate their chances of success in the continuously evolving but globally inclusive music scene.

"We are thrilled to join forces with Off The Record," said Roslyn Pineda, general manager, Philippines, Sony Music Entertainment. "Ricky Ilacad has a proven track record of success in the music industry, and we share his passion for developing exceptional Filipino talent. Together, we will create unparalleled opportunities for artists and reshape the music industry."

The partnership comes at an exciting time for both SME Philippines and Off The Record. Off The Record has recently enjoyed success with releases from newcomer Ica Frias ("Oh Honey") and breakthrough band Paham ("Ganid"). Autotelic's Josh Villena also brought his A-game to the label's growing roster of eclectic acts with the release of "Hello" via his music alter-ego totâ. SME Philippines continues to be a leading force in the Philippine music industry, with a roster of top artists, including Ben&Ben, SB19 and O SIDE MAFIA.

Ilacad, chief executive officer of Off The Record, said: "I've always believed that Filipino music has the potential to take the world by storm. With SME Philippines as our partner, we will be able to provide our artists with the resources and support they need to achieve international success. We are excited to embark on this journey together and help Filipino music reach new heights. This time, we're going global without leaving home."