Whether you’re a singer-songwriter, composer or publisher, when working with SESAC Performing Rights you benefit from the deepest expertise in the collection and distribution of performance royalties and a team that always puts creators first.
You can bank on it.
SESAC currently licenses the public performance of more than 1.5 million songs on behalf of its 15,000+ affiliated songwriters, composers, and music publishers, which include such familiar names as Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, RUSH, Adele, Jack Harlow, Ariana Grande, Disclosure, Zac Brown, Rosanne Cash, Hillary Scott of Lady A, Lee Brice, Margo Price, Nicky Jam, Blanco Brown, and many more.
SESAC has long represented the music on some of TV’s biggest shows including Grey’s Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, A Million Little Things, Dateline NBC, Dr. Phil, Seinfeld, and Modern Family, and is the PRO of choice among many of Hollywood’s most sought-after film and television composers including Christophe Beck, Danny Lux, The Newton Brothers, John Ehrlich, Dennis C. Brown, Emile Mosseri, and many more.
Careers
For over 90 years, SESAC has been a leader in performance rights led by a top-tier team of music industry professionals who are passionate about work that supports the best songwriters and composers in the world.
In February 1931 Paul Heinecke founded The Society of European Stage Authors and Composers, or SESAC, on the principle that “Music is the common denominator…a communications instrument that knows no language barrier.” At the time, it was America’s second performing rights organization with a repertory consisting primarily of works published by European firms.
In the 1950s, SESAC established its electrical transcription service. Some of the earliest transcribed artists were jazz and country performers, including Duke Ellington, Chet Atkins, and Hank Garland.
With the advent of broadcasting as both an art form and a commercial enterprise, it brought about a new era for music and for SESAC. With the growth in media and musical usage, SESAC expanded its repertoire to include hundreds of American publisher’s catalogs across every musical genre, as well as for film and television composers.
In 1992 Stephen Swid, Allen & Co, Freddie Gershon, and Ira Smith acquired SESAC and marked the beginning of a new era for the company. In September 2015, SESAC acquired The Harry Fox Agency (HFA), the leading U.S. mechanical rights organization and positioned SESAC as the only music rights organization in the United States, with the ability to offer singular licenses for the works of its affiliated writers and publishers that aggregate both performance and mechanical rights. In February 2017, SESAC was acquired by Blackstone.
Today SESAC represents 15,000+ publishers and affiliates as well as the best film and television composers and hosts over 1.5 million songs in its repertoire. SESAC Music Group is a leader and innovator in global music licensing that administers public performance, mechanical, and other rights through its data, technology and services portfolio. SESAC Performing Rights, The Harry Fox Agency, Rumblefish, Audiam, and Mint Digital Services drive efficiency in licensing for music users and enhance value for writers, publishers, and composers by providing timely and efficient copyright administration, royalty collection and distribution. SESAC has offices in New York, Nashville, Los Angeles, London and Munich.
The Society of European Stage Authors and Composers was founded by Paul Heinecke, a German immigrant of New York.
SESAC evolves beyond gospel recordings and European composers.
SESAC established its electrical transcription service.
SESAC signs it’s first songwriter, Glenn Ray.
