Billboard Philippines recently honored notable Filipina executives for their outstanding contributions to the local music scene. At their Women In Music: The Executive Edition awards night last March 28, 2025 held at Old Manila in The Peninsula Manila, Universal Records Managing Director Kathleen Dy-Go was given the Executive of the Year – OPM Vanguard award.
Multimedia star Donny Pangilinan presented the OPM Vanguard award to Kathleen Dy-Go. “One can say that our next honoree was born into the music industry quite literally,” he said. “The daughter of Philippine record industry pioneer Dr. James Dy, she grew up surrounded by artists who occasionally visited her family’s home, and watched as her older siblings worked with music stars as they performed at concerts and variety shows, deepening her passion for music, particularly for the homegrown kind.”
“Her older sister, Bella Dy-Tan, was the managing director of Universal Records Philippines, the home of such OPM giants like Gary Valenciano, Jose Mari Chan, and Parokya ni Edgar, and took the younger Kathleen under her wing. Driven by her passion for music Kathleen learned everything she needed to become an industry game-changer herself, and eventually took over the label, ultimately continuing her family’s legacy and keeping it relevant for succeeding generations.”
Kathleen Dy-Go has been instrumental in giving artists an opportunity to grow and make it big in the music industry, which is especially true for bands such as Parokya ni Edgar, Silent Sanctuary, Orange & Lemons, and rapper Shanti Dope, at a time when hip-hop was not really mainstream. Donny himself shared that back in 2016, even if he was not a singer, Kathleen Dy-Go asked him to sing and record a song, making him a legit recording artist. “She is one of the people who believed in me from the very start,” he shared.
Dy-Go continues to champion local talent, elevating established artists like Sam Concepcion, Julie Anne San Jose, and rap legend Gloc-9, while discovering exciting new acts such as singer-songwriter Will Mikhael from Cebu, female rapper XYVRL, and five-piece band It All Started In May from Cavite, among others, and closely working with them not just to produce the best songs possible but also to achieve a long and fulfilling career in the entertainment industry.
This award from Billboard Philippines is a great reminder that under Kathleen Dy-Go’s leadership and vision, alongside Executive Vice-President Ramon Chuaying’s mentorship and guidance, Universal Records remains the foremost vanguard of OPM.
