First Take PR

What First Take PR does

First Take PR is a privately held boutique public relations firm founded in 2006 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, specializing in PR, branding, consulting, social media marketing, website development, and video creation for entertainment and publishing industry clients. Its roster includes musicians, actors, playwrights, screenwriters, independent publishers, and entertainment journalists — including Grammy-nominated jazz artists, composers, and niche magazine publishers — with a recurring long-tail of multi-year engagements and a separately maintained "Former Clients" list indicating natural retention churn. Co-founded by Sean McKenzie, the firm operates with 1-10 employees and has no disclosed external institutional investment. The firm's competitive positioning is built on 18 years of accumulated relationships across LA-based media outlets, venues, and entertainment-industry events, and it is structurally tied to the affiliated KL Publishing Group ecosystem (AGENDA, Virtuoso Bass, Schmooze Jazz, Jazz Influencers, The Performing Artist), which provides editorial cross-promotion channels not commonly available to independent PR boutiques.

Revenue mechanics are based on quote-based professional services engagements typical of boutique PR firms, with no publicly disclosed pricing or contract terms. Distribution is direct and relationship-driven: the firm acquires clients through industry reputation, referrals, and direct outreach, then delivers services through one-on-one engagements spanning press release creation, media outreach, brand positioning, event coordination, and social media management. Marketing channels are minimal — the firm operates a content website (firsttakepr.com), a Twitter/X account (@firsttakepr), PR news distribution via PRUnderground, and event-based promotion tied to client milestones. Notable recent partnership activity includes a content relationship with Kayland.tv streaming (announced November 2024) and event production partnerships with BackRhoades Productions and Gardena Cinema (February 2025).

Operating signal is mixed-active: the firm continues to generate press placements and client award recognition (five clients honored at the 2024 Olympia Arts Awards, a Wild Atlantic Writing Awards finalist in 2025, and Feedspot Top 5 ranking in Los Angeles for AGENDA Magazine in 2025), but no revenue, headcount, or geographic expansion data is disclosed. The firm has no app, no public API or SDK, no integrations, no patents or trademarks, and no AI/ML capabilities referenced anywhere in available materials. Geographic scope is regional, focused on the Western United States, with no global footprint claim.

Name

First Take PR

Legal name

First Take PR

Website

https://firsttakepr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Take PR is a privately held, 18-year-old boutique public relations firm in Los Angeles serving musicians, actors, publishers, and entertainment industry professionals with PR, branding, consulting, social media marketing, website development, and video creation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer & Lifestyle PR (MPAAADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Publicity, PR & Media Relations (Artists) (MPAIAGAG), Product & Brand PR (Consumer & B2B) (BPAFADAH), PR, Reputation Management & Earned Media Platforms (BPAMALAO)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Branding services
• Entertainment PR
• Social media marketing
• Strategic consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. PR Services: Public relations services including press releases, media relations, and brand management for entertainment industry clients
2. Branding and Consulting: Brand development and strategic consulting services for artists and media professionals
3. Social Media Marketing: Social media marketing services for clients across entertainment and publishing sectors

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

First Take PR is a boutique public relations firm providing PR, brand development, strategic consulting, and social media marketing services to clients in the entertainment and publishing industries. The firm crafts press releases, manages media outreach and brand positioning, and promotes clients through event-based campaigns, benefit concerts, and affiliated magazine properties under KL Publishing Group.

Product overview

First Take PR operates as a PR, branding, consulting, and social media marketing firm serving the entertainment and publishing industries. The company provides public relations, brand development, strategic consulting, and social media marketing services to a roster of clients including musicians, actors, publishers, and entertainment industry professionals. The firm's service offering is structured as a unified suite of marketing and communications services rather than a platform with modular products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations Services Public relations services including press release creation, media outreach, and promotional campaign management for entertainment and publishing clients.
• Branding Services Brand development and positioning services to help clients establish and maintain their public image and market presence.
• Consulting Services Strategic consulting services for entertainment industry professionals, artists, and publishing ventures.
• Social Media Marketing Social media marketing services to promote clients across digital platforms and manage their online presence.

Quantifiable outcome

• Five clients received awards at the 2024 Olympia Arts Awards
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• BackRhoades ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2025Event production company organizing benefit concerts featuring First Take PR clients including Bunny Brunel and Kaylene Peoples. Hosted Altadena Aftermath Benefit Concert at Gardena Cinema.
• Gardena CinemaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 February 2025Independent single-screen theater in Gardena, CA serving as venue for events featuring First Take PR clients. Partnership enables event-based client promotion.
• Kayland.tvminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2024Kayland.tv is a new streaming platform featuring First Take PR clients including Kaylene Peoples, Chase Masterson, Kevin Foster, and Bunny Brunel in original content including Kaylene & Friends Christmas holiday special.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ID PR: Los Angeles-based boutique PR firm focused on entertainment, lifestyle, and consumer brands. Closely comparable in size, vertical focus, and client mix; both serve musicians, artists, and lifestyle clients with personalized PR services.
• OutsidePR: Boutique PR firm representing active lifestyle, music, and entertainment clients. Comparable in size and as a privately held firm offering PR, branding, and social media services to talent and consumer brands.
• Slate PR: Independent entertainment and lifestyle PR boutique. Comparable as a privately held firm focused on entertainment publicity, brand positioning, and media relations for talent-driven clients.
• HL Group: Boutique communications agency specializing in entertainment, hospitality, and lifestyle brands. Comparable in delivering integrated PR, branding, and social media services to entertainment-adjacent clients.
• M18 Public Relations: New York-based entertainment and consumer PR firm. Comparable as a boutique independent agency focused on entertainment publicity with full-service PR, branding, and social media offerings for talent-driven clients.
• Press Here Publicity: Independent entertainment and consumer PR firm with a similar boutique structure and entertainment/celebrity client roster. Both are privately held firms specializing in publicity for artists, lifestyle brands, and media personalities.
• Reputable PR: Boutique consumer and lifestyle publicity firm representing entertainment, fashion, and consumer brands. Comparable in operating model (boutique, full-service publicity) and client vertical overlap in entertainment and lifestyle.
• Wanda Owen PR: Independent entertainment-focused PR boutique representing musicians, actors, and entertainment brands. Comparable niche specialization in entertainment publicity with a personalized, boutique service model.

Broad incumbents

• Sunshine Sachs: Major entertainment and celebrity PR firm representing A-list musicians, actors, and brands. Comparable because both serve high-profile entertainment talent clients, though Sunshine Sachs operates at significantly larger scale with broader media and corporate practices.
• 42 West: Full-service entertainment PR agency under TPG-owned Finn Partners. Directly comparable in serving entertainment clients (musicians, actors, filmmakers) with PR and brand positioning services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/firsttakepr
• Facebookfacebook.com/firsttakepr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 First Take PR