Universal Warning Records is a record label and video production company located in the greater Philadelphia area. Universal Warning produces and releases independent music from local and national bands, as well as produces music videos, live concerts for DVD and digital transmission as well as music documentaries, primarily from the indie, punk, and hardcore genres.
History
The label was established in the Spring of 2000 by founders Tim Martinkovich, Mike Varga, and Clint Weiler. The three met while studying at Kutztown University. The label was created as a foundation for the partners' punk-alternative band The Covert Agency and to promote area acts that the partners appreciated.
After releasing a compilation of regional Pennsylvanian bands entitled The Warning Compilation during the founders last year in Kutztown, Martinkovitch moved the label and started their first office in Denver Colorado in Summer 2001. Universal Warning Records went on to release full lengths of several Colorado bands such as ManAlive! and Against Tomorrow's Sky. Later that year the label branched out and began signing artists as far south as Louisiana, where Victim of Modern Age ruled the Lafayette scene.
In the Spring of 2008, Weiler left his position as publicist for the label to pursue free lance work and business ventures including a bobble head company called Aggronautix.
Since its foundation in 2000, Universal Warning Records has had offices in Denver, Colorado, Richmond, Virginia and Royersford, Pennsylvania
To date, the label has released 19 CDs, 4 records, and 4 DVDs and filmed nearly 100 live shows including Earth Crisis and Sick of it All.
In May 2011, Universal Warning Records had its 10-year anniversary and the upstart of two new label imprints Fast Break Entertainment and Candy Colored Dragon.
Industry relationships
Universal Warning Records got their start releasing music by working with Ryan Fennical and his Marshalls Creek area recording studio. The label has had a close relationship with popular Philadelphia indie rockers The Jazz June and their subsequent incarnation Snakes & Music, having released albums and DVDs by the band. Universal Warning Records media has been distributed by Initial Records, Revelation Records, Lumberjack Distribution, Revolver, Very, Choke, Music Video Distributors, Carrot Top, and Hostile City Distribution. Founder Mike Varga also owned Grata Video and produced or worked on videos and DVDs for Andrew W.K., DEVO, Dr. Dog and The Queers
Discography Catalog number Release date Band Album title Classification Medium Genre UWR001 05.12.2001 Covert Agency "Orange" EP CD Rock/Punk/Alternative UWR002 08.28.2001 Various Artists The Warning Compilation Full-length compilation CD Various UWR003 09.18.2001 Forget About Tomorrow And Then There's June EP CD Punk-Alternative UWR004 11.13.2001 Manalive! Robotic Youth EP CD Punk UWR005 04.23.2002 Covert Agency "Brown" EP EP CD Punk-Alternative UWR006 06.04.2002 Manalive! Heart Hands And Mind Full Length CD Crust Punk UWR007 08.06.2002 Against Tomorrow’s Sky Jump The Hedges First Full Length CD Rock, Alternative UWR008 08.27.2002 Victim of Modern Age Victim of Modern Age EP CD “Math Rock”, Indie Rock UWR009 11.19.2002 Sadaharu Punishment in Hi-Fi EP CD Jazz-Metal UWR010 05.20.2003 Snakes & Music Truisms Full Length CD Alternative, Indie UWR011 09.23.2003 Victim of Modern Age Channels Like Capillaries Full Length CD “Math Rock”, Indie Rock UWR012 06.14.2005 The Red Tops Left For Dead CD Full Length Metal, Hardcore UWR013 11.15.2005 Geography Life In Binary Full Length CD Math Rock, Indie Rock UWR014 03.12.2005 Sadaharu New and Alternate Careers in Dance Feature Length DVD Jazz-Metal UWR016 05.19.2005 Murphy’s Law Up With Us, Down With Them Feature Length DVD Hardcore UWR017 03.14.2006 Snakes & Music Isabelle Full Length CD Indie UWR018 11.14.2006 Fifty Caliber Kiss Armor Class Invincible Full Length CD Metal UWR019 12.05.2006 Holiday Body Bag Dead Leaves EP CD Punk, Hardcore UWR020 03.20.2007 Wisdom In Chains Die For Us Live Feature DVD Hardcore UWR021 06.12.2007 The Jazz June The Scars to Prove it CD/DVD Live Combo CD/DVD Indie Rock UWR022 07.22.2008 House of Fire S/T CD Indie UWR023 09.23.2008 Watching the Moon Perception Is Bent CD Indie UWR024 07.21.2009 Wisdom in Chains S/T CD Hardcore UWR025 07.21.2009 Wisdom in Chains S/T Vinyl Hardcore UWR026 11.30.2010 Unite.Resist. S/T CD Hardcore UWR027 01.25.2011 The Queers Live In Philly 06' Vinyl Punk
Music videos
Victim of Modern Age: Instruct to Destruct Holiday Bodybag: Dead Leaves American Speedway: Ship of Fools Fifty Caliber Kiss: Hide the Razor Wisdom In Chains: Back To The Ocean Wisdom In Chains: Chasing The Dragon
Media released on other labels Sick of it All “New York vs London” (released as a CD/DVD combo w/ Based on a True Story (Sick of It All album) Century Media
References
External links