Association of Independent Commercial Producers

What Association of Independent Commercial Producers does

AICP is a national trade association founded in 1972 that exclusively represents the interests of independent companies specializing in commercial production and post production across film, video, and digital media. Headquartered in New York (3 West 18th Street) with a regional office in Los Angeles, the association operates with 15 professional staff and is governed by a national board representing its member companies. Its General Member base of 400+ production and post-production firms — together with roughly 200 affiliated firms and a network of Associate Members comprising suppliers and service providers — accounts for 80-85% of all domestically aired commercials on every media platform, addressing an industry AICP sizes at more than $5 billion in annual billings.

The organization's service portfolio is multi-product rather than a unified software platform: AICP negotiates collective labor agreements with the DGA, IATSE, and Teamsters; runs three flagship awards programs (AICP Show, AICP Next Awards, AICP Post Awards) with winning work preserved in the Museum of Modern Art's Department of Film archives; publishes industry-standard guidelines, model contracts, position papers, and forms; operates the AICP Legal Initiative for Agency Contracts (providing attorneys to negotiate non-compensation contract terms on behalf of members); and delivers member-only benefits including the Producers' Health Benefits Plan (PHBP), equity & inclusion programs, the Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP), Sustainable Production Practices guidance, and AI Resources. Distribution is organized around five regional chapters (East, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, West) with member access through a member portal, the public aicp.com website, a monthly Spotted newsletter, and an annual AICP Week event held at MoMA.

AICP's revenue model is dues-based subscription: General Members (production and post-production companies) and Associate Members (suppliers and service providers) pay annual dues scaled to the member company's annual billings, supplemented by event registration, awards entry fees, and partnership/sponsorship revenue. The legal entity is Association of Independent Commercial Producers, Inc., incorporated in New York as a private membership organization with no external investors, no parent company, and no public listing.

Name

Association of Independent Commercial Producers

Legal name

Association of Independent Commercial Producers, Inc.

Website

https://aicp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AICP is a 1972-founded national trade association exclusively representing 400+ independent commercial production and post-production companies, accounting for 80-85% of domestically aired commercials in the $5B+ U.S. commercial production industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPACAGAA

Independent Contractor Compliance & Classification (IC vs Employee)

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Contract Staffing & Independent Contractor Management

Keywords

• Trade association services
• Commercial production advocacy
• Membership organization
• Industry awards programs
• Labor relations services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AICP generates revenue through annual membership dues from General and Associate members. Dues are assessed from a national dues schedule based on annual billings. General members are commercial production and post production companies. Associate members are suppliers and service providers to the industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AICP is a national trade association that exclusively represents independent companies specializing in commercial production and post production across film, video and digital media. It sells annual membership (General and Associate tiers) and delivers the supporting value proposition: industry awards programs, a legal initiative for agency contracts, business-affairs guidelines and standard contracts, labor relations support, professional development events and advocacy before government agencies.

Product overview

AICP is a national trade association for independent commercial production and post production companies, offering a portfolio of awards programs (AICP Show, AICP Next Awards, AICP Post Awards), business resources (guidelines, legal initiative, contracts), professional development (AICP Week, education events, boot camps), and member services (directory, legislative advocacy, equity & inclusion initiatives, health benefits). The organization does not offer a unified software platform but provides industry standards, resources, and events for the $5 billion commercial production industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Cast & Crew Commercials (formerly CAPS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry-leading commercial payroll partner for AICP member companies. Provides customized, end-to-end services for union and nonunion crews. Backed by more than three decades of experience with tech-driven solutions.
• Musicbed/FilmsupplysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFM (Musicbed/Filmsupply) is a family of brands dedicated to equipping the global creative community through music, footage, and photo licensing. Musicbed provides premium cinematic music from 1,500+ artists; Filmsupply provides footage from acclaimed directors.
• Universal Studios Lot & Universal Production ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe iconic Universal Studios Lot offers 34 sound stages and 30+ backlot film locations. Provides world class production services including Set Lighting & Grip, Transportation, Costume, Property & Drapery, and Virtual Production Stage with LED volume.
• WrapbooksupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAI platform for commercial finance bringing payroll, spend, and accounting into a single unified system. Helps commercial production teams move faster, stay compliant. Handles payroll for leading names in commercial production including SMUGGLER, RadicalMedia, and Smartypants.
• Sony Pictures StudioscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSony Pictures Studios has 18 sound stages ranging from 42,000 SF to 7,500 SF. Offers full complement of production support departments including Property and Set Dressing rentals, Wardrobe rentals, and tailoring services.
• NEED Financial ServicessupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEntertainment/Media Industry's premiere outsourced production accounting service. Operates in Los Angeles and New York markets.
• Film Offices of the Hawaiian IslandssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFive film commissions dedicated to providing outstanding service to production clientele. Hawaii offers 20-25% tax rebate on qualified production with $200,000 minimum spend. Includes Big Island, Kauai, Maui, Honolulu/Oahu, and Hawaii Film Offices.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees): IATSE is the labor union for behind-the-scenes entertainment workers and is one of the unions with which AICP negotiates commercial production labor agreements. They are counterparties rather than competitors, but operationally intertwined.
• SAG-AFTRA: SAG-AFTRA is the labor union representing performers, including those appearing in commercials. AICP's labor relations and contracts directly intersect with SAG-AFTRA commercials agreements.
• Directors Guild of America (DGA): DGA represents directors and is one of the three unions with which AICP negotiates commercials labor agreements. Their commercial contracts directly shape member company economics.

Direct peers

• Producers Guild of America (PGA): PGA is the trade association for film and television producers, with overlapping membership types (independent production companies, post-production suppliers) and similar function: labor representation, producer credits, industry standards, and educational programming.
• Association of National Advertisers (ANA): ANA represents major advertisers and was AICP President Matt Miller's prior employer. Both organizations serve the marketing/advertising ecosystem, run industry events, develop standards, and engage in talent/policy initiatives relevant to commercial production.
• American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's): The 4A's is the national trade association for U.S. advertising agencies, representing the buyer side of commercial production. AICP represents the production company side, and both organizations sit at the center of the advertising production value chain, often interacting on agency-producer contracts, labor, and standards.
• Advertising Research Foundation (ARF): ARF operates in the advertising industry trade body space, focused on research, measurement, and effectiveness. It shares the membership association model, sponsors events, and influences industry practices parallel to AICP's role.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Broadcasters (NAB): NAB is a large, established trade association for U.S. broadcasters — a broader industry player that overlaps with AICP at the intersection of content production, advertising, and broadcast distribution.

Regional players

• Screen Producers Australia: Screen Producers Australia is the peak body for screen producers in Australia. While broader in scope than AICP (which focuses exclusively on commercials), it plays a similar trade association role for production companies in a different geography.
• Advertising Producers Association (APA) UK: APA is the UK trade association for advertising producers, the closest international counterpart to AICP. Both serve independent commercial production companies in their respective markets with comparable member services and industry events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aicproducers
• Facebookfacebook.com/85415395781
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2075603

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association of Independent Commercial Producers