Universal Production Music

Universal Production Music (UPM) is the world's largest production music company, offering a catalog of over 240,000 original tracks across 21 global libraries for use in film, television, advertising, gaming, radio, podcasts, and digital media. A subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group, UPM was formerly known as Killer Tracks and rebranded in September 2019. The company features music by Grammy and BAFTA-winning composers and provides AI-powered search tools, Adobe Premiere Pro integration, music direction services, and green production music initiatives.

How Universal Production Music Works

UPM operates as a business-to-business production music library. The company produces and licenses music for professional use across all media formats. Here is how the system works for different users:

1. Account registration: Production companies, agencies, networks, and post houses create an account on the UPM platform. This grants access to the full catalog of 240,000+ tracks.
2. Search and discovery: Users search for music using the platform's AI-powered similarity search, which recommends tracks similar to a reference track. The Adobe Premiere Pro extension allows editors to search, audition, and download tracks directly within their editing workflow.
3. Licensing: UPM offers multiple licensing models:
   • Blanket licenses: Annual agreements that give clients unlimited access to the catalog for a fixed fee, suited to high-volume users like TV networks.
   • Needledrop licenses: Per-use pricing for individual track placements, suited to lower-volume users like independent productions.
   • Custom music direction: Besoke music services where UPM's Music Directors source and recommend tracks for specific projects at no additional cost.
4. Stems and customization: Many tracks include stems, allowing editors to create custom arrangements by isolating individual instruments or sections.
5. Green production music: UPM is the first publisher to produce carbon-conscious production music, with over 600 tracks produced by green music composers.

The company produces over 100 new CDs of music each year and continues to expand through acquiring new music collections. Its 21 global libraries include Atmosphere, Killer Tracks, Koka, Match, and Network Music.

Real-World Example

A mid-sized advertising agency produces 200 TV and digital ads per year. They purchase an annual blanket license from Universal Production Music at a rate negotiated based on their usage volume and territory coverage. For an agency of this size, a blanket license might cost $15,000 to $50,000 per year depending on the terms.

Without the blanket license, each individual needledrop placement might cost $200 to $1,500 per use. At 200 placements per year, that would total $40,000 to $300,000. The blanket license saves the agency money while providing unlimited access to the entire catalog.

In 2026, UPM scored Ford's Mother's Day campaign using music from its catalog. The company also released "Violin Inventions," an album featuring Grammy Award-winning violinist Charlie Bisharat, whose playing has appeared on recordings by Alanis Morissette, The Rolling Stones, and Aerosmith. These releases demonstrate how UPM combines high-profile composer talent with production music accessibility.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Universal Production Music sits at the top of the production music industry. For independent artists and composers, understanding how UPM works is essential:

• Access requires publisher representation: UPM rarely accepts direct composer submissions. Composers are typically signed through established publisher relationships or industry networking. If you want your music in the UPM catalog, you generally need to be represented by a publisher that has a relationship with UPM.
• High volume means steady backend income: Composers whose music appears in the UPM catalog can earn performance royalties through their PRO when tracks air on broadcast television. The catalog's massive reach means a single track can generate royalties across hundreds of placements.
• Work-for-hire is common: UPM often commissions music on a work-for-hire basis, meaning the composer receives an upfront fee but does not retain ownership of the recordings. Read our guide on work-for-hire agreements to understand what you are signing away.
• The rebrand consolidated major libraries: The 2019 rebrand from Killer Tracks to Universal Production Music, and the 2021 merger with FirstCom Music, consolidated multiple historic libraries under one platform. This means more competition within the catalog but also more exposure opportunities.
• AI tools are changing discovery: UPM's AI-powered similarity search means tracks are discovered based on sonic characteristics rather than manual browsing. Well-produced, clearly tagged tracks with distinct sonic profiles have an advantage in AI-driven search.

If you are a composer looking to get into production music, start by understanding the sync licensing landscape and building relationships with music publishers. Read our guide on library music and production music for passive income to learn how production music catalogs work.

History and Corporate Structure

Universal Production Music has a complex corporate history:

• 1989: Killer Tracks founded in Hollywood, California, with an original catalog of 30 CDs.
• 2003: BMG Zomba Production Music formed, folding the Zomba Production Music unit into BMG.
• 2007: Universal Music Publishing Group acquired BMG Music Publishing and its production music library, including Killer Tracks.
• 2012: Killer Tracks launched the Artist Series, featuring original EPs from notable artists available for both B2B licensing and public streaming on iTunes and Spotify.
• 2019: Killer Tracks rebranded as Universal Production Music on September 12.
• 2021: UPM's US branch merged with FirstCom Music on July 12, consolidating FirstCom's catalogs onto the UPM platform.
• 2022: UPM launched Usample, a new website. Through Bruton Vaults and Chappell Vaults labels, the company digitized two historic catalogs.
• 2025: UPM launched a redesigned website with improved search functionality and AI tools.
• 2026: UPM continues expanding with new releases like SaraoMusic and Violin Inventions, AI-powered similarity search, and green production music initiatives.

The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group, which is itself part of Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company.

Use our sync licensing fee calculator to compare blanket license costs against per-placement needledrop fees.

Related Resources

• Library Music and Production Music for Passive Income - How production music catalogs generate income for composers
• Sync Licensing Companies vs Music Libraries - Understanding where UPM fits in the licensing ecosystem
• Work-for-Hire Agreements for Musicians - What work-for-hire means for production music composers
• Music Licensing Agreements: Types, Terms, and Red Flags - Understanding production music contracts
• Universal Production Music Official Website - Current catalog, tools, and licensing information
• Universal Production Music on Wikipedia - Corporate history and background