FirstCom

FirstCom Music is a leading provider of production music for film, broadcast, multimedia and corporate productions.

History

Founded during the jingle boom of the 1980s, FirstCom Music quickly evolved from a broadcast services company specializing in commercial image and radio ID packages to one of the world’s best known and largest music publishing and production companies. FirstCom Music’s aggressive growth in music licensing started with the launch of the world’s first production music library on CD in 1985.

In 1987, FirstCom entered into a joint venture with MusicHouse International of London, where the company represented the MusicHouse library in the U.S., and MusicHouse represented FirstCom Music in the U.K.

In 1990, FirstCom Music was purchased by Zomba Enterprises. As a result of the merger, FirstCom began representing the Chappell Music Library. Later, the Chappell European Classical Library was introduced.

The Film/TV division was formed in 1993, as a joint venture between Zomba and FirstCom Music. This allowed FirstCom’s music libraries to be featured in television shows and feature films.

In 1994, FirstCom Music purchased the Hollywood Film Music Library. The following year, FirstCom Music introduced MusiQuick and MusiQuick+Clipz, a proprietary music search and audition system. [1]

In 1997, FirstCom Music acquired 50% ownership in the OneMusic Library and exclusive distribution rights worldwide. The OneMusic LiquidTrax technology provided producers the first production library that they could remix to their specific needs.

In 1998, FirstCom Music completed an arrangement with Manny Kallins to purchase his New York-produced Gotham Music Library.[2] That same year, Access Music, the first FirstCom Music-produced ‘boutique’ library was introduced.

In January 2000, FirstCom began distribution of the Thomas Dolby (of “She Blinded Me with Science” fame) produced Headspace TM Library.

In 2003, FirstCom Music was acquired by Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) when they purchased Zomba Enterprises, LLC. With wholly owned offices in 31 countries around the world, BMG Music Publishing was the world’s largest independent music publisher at the time, and the third largest music publisher among all music publishers.

In 2005, SEE Trailer Tracks, a library specializing in motion picture advertising, debuted. [3]

In 2007, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) acquired BMG Music Publishing to create Universal Publishing Production Music. [4] UMPG is the largest music publisher in the world with offices in 41 countries. [5] That same year, FirstCom’s independent music label, Roadside Couch Records, was launched. [6]

FirstCom has forged partnerships with some of the most creative writers, producers and musicians in the business including GRAMMY and Academy Award winners, singer-songwriters, film score composers and major league session players of all kinds.

Currently, the FirstCom Music libraries are distributed throughout the world via international subpublishers. Some of these companies are UPPM-owned and operated facilities, while others are independent. The company produces and represents 30 music catalogs containing over 189,000 tracks with updates six times a year. [7]

FirstCom Music is headquartered in Dallas, Texas with offices in Los Angeles.

References

  1. ↑ "" FirstCom Music Support
  2. ↑ "" Gotham Music Library
  3. ↑ "" Mix Magazine
  4. ↑ "" Universal Publishing Production Music
  5. ↑ "" Universal Music Publishing Group
  6. ↑ "" Studio Daily
  7. ↑ "" FirstCom Music

External links

1. Official website

2. Universal Publishing Production Music website

3. Universal Music Publishing Group

Articles

"FirstCom Music Releases Two New Latin Library Collections". PR.com. 01 Nov 2013 <http://www.pr.com/press-release/525062>.

"FirstCom Partners with Sound Editor Rob Nokes on FX Library". Studio Daily. 13 Mar 2013 <http://www.studiodaily.com/2013/03/firstcom-partners-with-sound-editor-rob-nokes-on-fx-library>.

"FirstCom Music Launches New SoundFX Library". Digital Production Buzz.. 28 Feb 2013 <http://www.digitalproductionbuzz.com/2013/02/firstcom-music-launches-soundfx-library/#.UlxWVlCkpnI>.

"Sound Library Update". Post Magazine 1 March 2012 <http://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2012/March-1-2012/Sound-Library-Update.aspx>.

"Firstcom's new site simplifies music searches" Post Magazine 15 Mar 2011 <http://www.postmagazine.com/Press-Center/Daily-News/2011/Firstcoms-new-site-simplifies-music-searches.aspx>.

"FirstCom Music Record Label". Studio Monthly Magazine 1 June 2007 <http://www.studiodaily.com/studiomonthly/tools/gearup/8155.html>.

"The House That Editing Built" New Mexico Business Weekly. 5 May 2006 <http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2006/05/08/smallb1.html>.

"FirstCom Music Prepares for New Website Launch". Mix Magazine. 18 Mar 2005 <http://mixonline.com/mixline/firstcom-web-launch/>.

"Zomba Enterprises Introduces SEE Music". Mix Magazine 4 May 2005 <http://mixonline.com/mixline/zomba-see-music>.