The history of USM Records (formally Universal Sound & Music Co. (Pty) Ltd.) dates back to 1974 when the label released South African traditional and gospel projects.
1998 saw them release their first (albeit domesticated) house release, and towards the new millennium USM concentrated on filling a gap in the emerging deep-, tech- and Afro-house markets. In 2006 USM was absorbed into Sheer Sound and discontinued.