Hip-O Select is Universal Music Group’s newest imprint, launched April 1, 2004.  Selling directly to customers through its website, the label has released close to 200 projects featuring such diverse artists as Etta James, The Supremes, The Animals, Jimmy Cliff, Peggy Lee, DJ Shadow, James Brown, Suzanne Vega, and Joe Walsh. 

Hip-O Select received special recognition from the Mojo Honours in 2005 for reissue program, as well as the Mojo Magazine Reissue Of The Year award in 2004 for Max Romeo’s “War Ina Babylon.”   Hip-O Select’s 2005 Muddy Waters’ volume “Hoochie Coochie Man” won the Blues Foundation’s “Handy Award” as Reissue Of The Year, and that collection and Select’s  “The Complete Motown Singles, Volume One: 1959 to 1961” won prestigious Alex art design awards for 2005.  

Furthermore media, from Rolling Stone to Goldmine, have consistently given the label’s releases four and five star reviews.  National Public Radio’s flag station KCRW’s newsletter said: “Hip-O Select have quickly made a name for themselves as the premier reissue label.”