FirstCom
FirstCom licenses a 240,000+ track pre-cleared production music catalog to film studios, broadcasters, streaming platforms, advertising agencies, and brands, with AI-powered search, an Adobe Premiere Pro plugin, and a Universal Music Group parent.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersCarrollton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What FirstCom does
FirstCom is a production music licensing platform operating as a brand within Universal Production Music, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group N.V. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, the company licenses a catalog of more than 240,000 original, pre-cleared tracks to film studios, television networks, streaming platforms, advertising agencies, brands, and digital content producers worldwide. Named customers include Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros., BBC, ESPN, FIFA, Banijay, Ford, Nike, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Wieden+Kennedy, spanning media & entertainment, advertising, gaming, and live-sports verticals. Its roster includes over 100 composers and artists with Grammy and BAFTA credentials.
The core product is a self-serve licensing platform with AI-powered discovery features — specifically a Similarity Search tool that matches a reference audio clip to catalog tracks and a Similar Tracks feature that auto-extends existing playlists with sonically consistent recommendations. A native Adobe Premiere Pro plugin exposes the full catalog inside the dominant professional video editing workflow, and a complimentary Music Direction Service pairs enterprise clients with dedicated curators. Adjacent offerings include bespoke custom music composition and a 600-track green/sustainable production music vertical.
FirstCom monetizes primarily through sync licensing fees (royalties) for use of pre-cleared tracks in film, TV, advertising, gaming, and digital media, supplemented by professional services revenue from custom composition and music direction. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured around project scope — single-track clearances through multi-channel worldwide licenses — with quotes varying by usage type, duration, distribution, and territory. Distribution combines a self-serve website, the Adobe integration, and enterprise field sales targeting major studios, broadcasters, and advertisers. Geographic operations include a primary Los Angeles presence and a Barcelona office tied to the SaraoMusic label.
FirstCom firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FirstCom
- Legal name
- Universal Music Group N.V.
- Website
- https://firstcom.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- FirstCom licenses a 240,000+ track pre-cleared production music catalog to film studios, broadcasters, streaming platforms, advertising agencies, and brands, with AI-powered search, an Adobe Premiere Pro plugin, and a Universal Music Group parent.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FirstCom industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Production Music Licensing
- NAICS
- Music Publishers (512230), Record Production and Distribution (51225), Sound Recording Industries (5122)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sync Marketplaces & Licensing Platforms (MPAIALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Music Rights & Clearances (Sync, Score, Publishing) (MPADAAAI), Master Licensing & Clearances (Recorded Music) (MPAIAAAI), Brand Partnerships & Music Placement Services (Non-Exclusive Brand Deals) (MPAIALAM)
Keywords
Where FirstCom is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Carrollton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
FirstCom business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Sync Licensing Fees: Revenue from licensing music for synchronization with visual media including film, TV, advertising, and digital content. Licensing fees based on usage type, duration, distribution channels, and territory.
- Production Music Catalog Licensing: Licensing of pre-cleared production music for commercial and personal use. Single-track clearances to multi-channel worldwide licenses available.
- Custom Music Composition: Bespoke music composition services for any media type, providing original scores tailored to specific project requirements.
- Music Direction Services: Curated music search and playlist services provided by expert Music Directors, complimentary to partners but represents a service revenue stream.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Single-track clearances to multi-channel worldwide licenses |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
FirstCom product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FirstCom provides pre-cleared production music licensing for film, television, advertising, gaming, radio, podcasts, and digital media from a catalog of over 240,000 original tracks across all genres. The company licenses music through single-track clearances to multi-channel worldwide licenses, supplemented by custom music composition, complimentary Music Direction curation, and AI-powered discovery tools.
Product overview
Universal Production Music is a production music platform offering a unified catalog of over 240,000 original tracks across all genres, augmented by AI-powered search and discovery tools. The core product (Production Music Catalog) is complemented by features like Similar Tracks and Similarity Search that leverage AI to enhance music discovery. Additional services include Music Direction (complimentary expert curation), Custom/Bespoke Music creation, and comprehensive Music Licensing support. The platform also offers integrations with Adobe Premiere Pro for in-editor workflow, and a green production music initiative with over 600 sustainable tracks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Production Music Catalog A pre-cleared production music catalog of over 240,000 original tracks spanning every genre, licensed for use in film, television, advertising, gaming, radio, podcasts, and digital media by media and entertainment professionals.
- Music Licensing Licensing service providing guidance and rights clearance from single-track clearances through multi-channel worldwide licenses, tailored to usage type, duration, distribution channels, and geographic territory.
- Music Direction Service Complimentary expert curation service in which dedicated Music Directors act as search partners, building custom playlists from the catalog to match enterprise client briefs, creative vision, and deadlines.
- Custom Music / Bespoke Music Composition Bespoke music composition service delivering original scores tailored to specific project requirements for any media type, including advertising campaigns, film, and branded content.
Quantifiable outcome
- Music licensing workflow reduced through AI-powered similarity search and direct Premiere Pro integration
Companies that use FirstCom
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FirstCom technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability2 records
Feature4 records
FirstCom partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- AdobecoreAdobe Premiere Pro integration allowing video editors to search, audition, and download tracks from the full catalog directly within their editing workflow. Full catalog access through native plugin.
- VMLcoreAgency partnership for custom music scoring on Ford Mother's Day campaign. VML and the company collaborated on custom score creation centering on real-life experiences.
- FordcoreBrand partnership for Mother's Day campaign featuring custom music score. Production music selected for ambulance setting depicting urgent real-life hospital journey.
- Universal Music GroupflagshipParent company providing global reach, catalog depth, and access to world-leading composers. © Copyright 2026 Universal Music Group N.V.
- SaraoMusicminorBarcelona-based label under the umbrella, shaping modern storytelling through bold, rhythmic sound. Represents label partnership within catalog.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FirstCom competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BMG: Integrated music publishing and recordings company with substantial sync licensing for film, TV, advertising, and gaming. Comparable enterprise sync business but broader, multi-territory portfolio.
- Warner Chappell Music: Major music publisher with significant sync licensing activity for film, TV, advertising, and games. Overlaps in sync licensing for visual media but operates across the full publishing catalog.
- Universal Music Publishing Group: Largest music publisher globally and identified sync licensing market leader (~22–24% share). Overlaps in sync licensing but operates at much broader scale across the full publishing value chain.
Direct peers
- Audio Network: Production music library and sync licensing platform serving film, TV, advertising, and digital media. Direct competitor with comparable catalog-and-licensing model and similar blue-chip customer base.
- Musicbed: Production music licensing platform focused on film, advertising, and brand storytelling. Direct peer in sync licensing for visual media with a similar independent-composer-led catalog strategy.
- APM Music: Long-standing production music library licensing tracks for film, TV, advertising, and trailers. Closely comparable offering, customer base, and sync licensing revenue model.
Emerging players
- Artlist: Music and SFX licensing platform targeting video creators, agencies, and brands. Overlaps in production music for digital video but skews toward self-serve subscription vs. enterprise sync.
- Epidemic Sound: Subscription-based music licensing platform for digital creators, brands, and media companies. Comparable sync-adjacent offering but differentiated by subscription pricing and YouTube/creator focus.
- Pond5: Royalty-free music and stock media marketplace serving filmmakers, agencies, and broadcasters. Comparable self-serve licensing model and customer overlap in production music.
- Songtradr: B2B music licensing marketplace offering sync, catalog administration, and AI-powered search. Comparable technology approach to music discovery and licensing platform business model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FirstCom social profiles
Digital presenceFirstCom financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FirstCom leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
FirstCom funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FirstCom M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FirstCom
What does FirstCom do?
FirstCom provides pre-cleared production music licensing for film, television, advertising, gaming, radio, podcasts, and digital media from a catalog of over 240,000 original tracks across all genres. The company licenses music through single-track clearances to multi-channel worldwide licenses, supplemented by custom music composition, complimentary Music Direction curation, and AI-powered discovery tools.
Is FirstCom a public or private company?
FirstCom is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was FirstCom founded?
FirstCom was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is FirstCom based?
FirstCom is headquartered in Carrollton, United States, in the North America region.
How does FirstCom make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Sync Licensing Fees are the primary driver. The others are production Music Catalog Licensing, custom Music Composition and music Direction Services.
Who are FirstCom's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BMG, Warner Chappell Music and Universal Music Publishing Group. Direct peers are Audio Network, Musicbed and APM Music. Emerging players are Artlist, Epidemic Sound, Pond5 and Songtradr.
Does FirstCom have an API?
No public API is recorded for FirstCom.
What industry is FirstCom in?
FirstCom's product category is Production Music Licensing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIALAG, Sync Marketplaces & Licensing Platforms, with a secondary code of MPADAAAI, Music Rights & Clearances (Sync, Score, Publishing). Its NAICS code is 512230 and its SIC code is 7822.