Frequently Asked Questions
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I have a license. What is my Account number and Bill to number?
Account and Bill To numbers are provided on all invoices, administrative and collections related mailings. Once you have located your Account and Bill To numbers, you can quickly process payments at sesac.com/pay. Additionally, if it’s your first time logging in, you’ll be able to access your account at sesac.com to connect with our Customer Service team and manage your account. If unable to locate your account information, contact our support team for further assistance by dialing 866-218-5823.
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I have a license. How can I get a copy of my invoice?
You can download the most recent copy by logging in to your account and navigating to the Documents page. If it’s your first time logging in with us, you will need to locate your Account and Bill To numbers provided on administrative and collections related mailings in addition to invoices.
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What is SESAC?
SESAC was founded in 1931 originally as the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers. Since that time SESAC has significantly expanded the number of songwriters and publishers represented, and its repertory now includes one million songs and counting.
SESAC is the second oldest of the three Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) named in the Copyright Law of the United States, all of which were created to protect the rights of music creators. This law defines a PRO as "an association, corporation, or other entity that licenses the public performance of non-dramatic musical works on behalf of copyright owners” or in our case, songwriters and film and tv composers. -
What services does SESAC provide?
SESAC represents songwriter’s and publisher’s copyrighted musical works and their right under the Copyright Law to publicly perform those works inside businesses. Essentially, anytime music is performed, played, or broadcast to the public, a license from the copyright holder is required.
SESAC offers a blanket license agreement that is recognized as the most convenient and cost-effective method to obtain the required authorization to publicly perform all of the copyrighted music in the SESAC repertory. -
Why does my business need a SESAC Performance License?
On behalf of many thousands of songwriters and music publishers, SESAC offers blanket license agreements that authorize the performance of all the compositions in the SESAC repertory, which is at one and a half million songs and counting.
If you are using someone's property (song) there is a moral and legal obligation to obtain the owner’s permission. Under the US Copyright law, anyone who publicly performs copyrighted music is required to obtain advanced permission from the copyright owner or their representative. If you publicly perform any copyrighted song without proper authorization, you are breaking the law and can be held liable for damages from a minimum of $750 up to a maximum of $150,000 per song played.
The Better Business Bureau provides additional information concerning the Copyright Law and a music user's responsibilities.
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If I have licenses with ASCAP and/or BMI, why do I need a license with SESAC?
SESAC, ASCAP, and BMI are three separate and distinct Performing Rights Organizations (PRO). Each organization represents different copyright holders (songwriters, composers, and publishers) and licenses only the copyrighted works of its own respective copyright holders. Licenses with ASCAP and BMI DO NOT grant you authorization to use the copyrighted music of SESAC-represented songwriters, composers or publishers.
Since a license with ASCAP and/or BMI does not grant authorization to publicly perform songs in the SESAC repertory, most businesses obtain licenses with all three in order to have proper copyright clearance for virtually all of the copyrighted music in the world.
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Are you looking for authorization to use music in a film/TV project (sync rights)?
SESAC does not represent the rights needed to reproduce a musical composition into a video (film, TV show, or any other audiovisual production). These rights are generally called sync rights (short for synchronization). To obtain sync rights, you should reach out to all publishers of the song you wish to use. Also, if you plan to use an existing sound recording, you will need to contact the record label that owns said recording.
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What kinds of music does SESAC represent?
SESAC currently represents a significant amount of music in every musical genre. SESAC has been serving music users throughout the United States for over 90 years with a diversified repertory including Top 40, Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock, Country, Spanish (Pop, Regional Mexican, Tropical, Rhythmic), Blues, Jazz, Big Band, Folk, Contemporary Christian, Gospel and many others. SESAC music can be found everywhere, including on television, radio, streaming services and film.
SESAC represented songs have been awarded Grammy, Clio, Dove, MTV, VH1, CMA, Emmy, and ACM awards, as well as scores of Gold and Platinum records. Artists and performers from all genres of music have performed SESAC represented works. -
If others perform music in my place of business, can I, the owner/operator, still be held liable for copyright infringement?
Yes. The Copyright Law of the United States, and subsequent case law, clearly states that the owner or operator of an establishment where music is publicly performed is required to obtain advanced authorization for the performance of copyrighted music on the premises. Paying the band does not cover you for that; your business must have authorization, such as that granted by the SESAC license, to play music publicly.
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Who is responsible for music licenses for rented/leased areas such as meeting/banquet rooms, reception halls, or ballrooms?
The Copyright Law of the United States and subsequent case law assigns the responsibility for obtaining authorization for copyrighted music played in rented or leased areas to the owner/operator of the establishment.
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Our background music service provider says they pay for all copyright licenses. Why would I need a SESAC license?
Most background music service providers are licensed with SESAC. However, their SESAC license only extends to the music they supply to establishments with no admission, membership or similar charge.
The performance of a SESAC-represented song, in either a live performance or a recorded performance (e.g. via radio, records, tapes, CDs, DVDs, MP3s, large screens or televisions, internet streaming or personal computer) needs to be licensed, either directly by the songwriter/publisher, or via a SESAC Performance License. To determine if your background music service provider is properly licensed with SESAC, please log in to your account at sesac.com to submit your inquiry. If you need to obtain a license for your business, click here. -
If I do not know if the music being played in my establishment is under copyright, can I still be held responsible for copyright infringement?
Yes. As the presenter/promoter/organizer/owner/operator of a business, it is your responsibility to obtain all required authorization for the public performance of copyrighted works performed on your premises.
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What is a blanket license?
A SESAC blanket license authorizes you to publicly perform any and all of the songs in the vast SESAC repertory as often as you like, without having to worry about obtaining permission for each individual song performed.
The blanket license has long been recognized as the most efficient and convenient way of clearing copyrights in the United States. It would be time consuming and expensive for you to locate, contact and negotiate with all copyright holders prior to the performance of each song you plan to play.
The U.S. Supreme Court summarized the virtues of the blanket license in CBS v. Broadcast Music, Inc., 441 U.S. 1 (1979) as follows:
"... the blanket license developed ... out of the practical situation in the marketplace: thousands of users, thousands of copyright owners and millions of compositions. Most users want unplanned, rapid and indemnified access to any and all of the repertory of compositions and the owners want a reliable method of collecting for the use of their copyrights...
"A middleman with a blanket license was an obvious necessity if the thousands of individual negotiations, a virtual impossibility were to be avoided. Also, ...(individual licenses would pose) a difficult and expensive reporting problem for the user and policing task for the copyright owner. Historically, the market for public performance rights organized itself largely around the single-fee blanket license, which gave unlimited access to the repertory and reliable protection against infringement." Id. at 20-22. -
Do I have any other option to obtain the required authorization to perform copyrighted music?
Yes. While SESAC offers the convenience and low cost of a blanket license authorizing the performance of all of the songs in the SESAC repertory, you have the option of contacting each copyright owner of each song you wish to play. As an alternative to a blanket license, you can negotiate a separate license agreement directly with each copyright owner of each song you will play.
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Do I have to pay for music licenses when I have already paid for the DJ, band or purchased the records, discs or tapes to be played in my establishment?
US Copyright law states that the owner or operator of the establishment where the music is being played is responsible for obtaining the required authorization. The compensation you provide to a performer such as a DJ or band does not relieve you of this obligation.
When you purchase a record, tape, compact disc, DVD or similar product you are granted the authorization for a non-public performance, such as in your home or car. There is no public performance right attached to the sale of these products and if you decide to play this music in your establishment you are required to obtain authorization from the copyright owner or their representative.
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What types of businesses are licensed with SESAC?
SESAC licenses all types of establishments and broadcast entities that use music in their business operations. Through licensing, SESAC grants copyright clearance authorization to the establishments and collects music royalties on behalf of SESAC affiliated songwriters, composers, publishers and copyright holders.
In addition to television, radio, satellite and cable operators, SESAC Licensees include restaurants, nightclubs, taverns, hotels, motels, resorts, health clubs, skating rinks, web sites, amusement parks, water parks, stadiums, auditoriums, arenas, convention centers, airlines, professional sport teams, country clubs, dance schools, colleges and universities, retail stores, shopping malls, museums, planetariums, theaters, concert promoters, cruise ships, festivals, and circuses. Click here for available licenses. -
How are SESAC license fees set for different businesses?
SESAC recognizes that music usage varies from industry to industry. Therefore, we have developed many different industry specific license agreements. The license fees are determined by relevant industry criteria that a licensing representative can walk you through.
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What happens if I ignore my responsibility to obtain permission to perform copyrighted music?
Those who perform copyrighted music represented by SESAC without the required permission may be determined by the courts to be willful infringers. This status subjects the unlicensed music user to damages ranging up to $150,000 for each song performed without proper authorization.
It is much more practical to simply secure a low-cost SESAC blanket license and be sure that you are covered for any and all SESAC represented music that is performed on your premises. -
I heard that the copyright law was changed and now certain performances of music do not require a license. Can you provide me with specific information?
Yes. Certain changes to the law were made that affect only certain radio and television performances.
The "Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act”, which is also referred to as the “Fairness In Music Licensing Act of 1998”, is the name of the bill that affects licensing requirements for certain radio and television performances. President Clinton signed the bill on October 24, 1998, and it became effective 90 days later on January 27, 1999.
A limited use of radio and television re-broadcasts (if specific criteria are met), and product demonstration in stores selling equipment used in the performance (if specific criteria are met) can be exempt from music licensing fees. The bill does not affect live music uses or other mechanical music uses such as records, tapes, compact discs, DVD, jukeboxes, karaoke and VCR, Internet streaming and personal computer.
If you meet the following criteria, you are not required to pay a license fee for specific performances of copyrighted music via radio and/or televisions:
If You Are A Food Service or Drinking Establishment
There is no direct charge to see or hear the transmission (i.e. admission, membership fee, cover, minimum, entertainment or similar charge) in your establishment
And
A) Your establishment has less than 3,750 gross square feet
Or
B) Your establishment has 3,750 gross square feet of space or more
And
Radio Use: you have no more than a total of 6 speakers in the establishment with no more than 4 speakers in any one room.
Television Use: you have no more than a total of 4 televisions in the establishment with no more than one television in any room. No television can have a diagonal screen size greater than 55 inches and there can be no more than a total of 6 speakers in the establishment with no more than 4 speakers in any one room delivering any audio portion of the television broadcast.
If You Are An: Establishment, Other Than Food Service or Drinking
There is no direct charge to see or hear the transmission (i.e. admission, membership fee, cover, minimum, entertainment or similar charge) in your establishment
And
A). Your establishment has less than 2,000 gross square feet
Or
B). Your establishment has 2,000 gross square feet of space or more
And
Radio Use: you have no more than a total of 6 speakers in the establishment with no more than 4 speakers in any one room.
Television Use: you have no more than a total of 4 televisions in the establishment with no more than one television in any room. No television can have a diagonal screen size greater than 55 inches and there can be no more than a total of 6 speakers in the establishment with no more than 4 speakers in any one room delivering the audio portion of the television broadcast.
A food service or drinking establishment is defined as “a restaurant, inn, bar, tavern, or any other similar place of business in which the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink, in which the majority of the gross square feet of space that is nonresidential is used for that purpose, and in which nondramatic musical works are performed publicly”.
An establishment is defined as “a store, shop, or any similar place of business open to the general public for the primary purpose of selling goods or services in which the majority of the gross square feet of space that is nonresidential is used for that purpose, and in which nondramatic musical works are performed publicly”.
As defined in the bill, gross square feet is “the entire interior space of that establishment, and any adjoining outdoor space used to serve patrons, whether on a seasonal basis or otherwise”. -
My current entertainment policy includes the use of television programming supplied by a satellite or cable provider. Why do I need a SESAC Music Performance License?
The license agreements SESAC has with your provider and the stations carried over their systems do not extend to authorize the public performance of those programs in your business. Copyrighted compositions represented by SESAC are regularly featured in sports, news, movies and entertainment programs, as well as in national or regional advertisements on virtually every television, cable and satellite station nationwide.
The SESAC license agreement for the audio-only background music product featured on many satellite and cable systems does provide limited authorization for that single source of music, however, that limited authorization does not extend to any of the other programming supplied nor does it extend to authorize any other performance of music not supplied by the satellite or cable system, such as tapes, compact discs or live music.
Licenses you may have with other performing rights organizations, background music suppliers, cable, or satellite providers in no way provide you with the authorization needed to perform SESAC represented copyrights via television transmissions. -
As the owner or operator of a broadcast entity, why do I need to enter into a license agreement with SESAC?
A broadcast or other transmission of content containing copyrighted musical works to the public constitutes a public performance of the applicable musical works. Subject to some limited exceptions, one must obtain permission from the copyright holder or its agent in order to legally publicly perform a musical work. As agent for many copyright holders, SESAC grants licenses allowing broadcasters to legally public perform SESAC represented works by means of these broadcasts or other transmissions.
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Do you have licensing questions for your social media channel/page?
Many major social media platforms are already licensed with SESAC. Generally speaking, SESAC licenses websites and apps on a platform-wide basis. We don’t usually license individual users’ channels or pages. If you’re the owner of a website or app using music, please reach out to discuss licensing needs in your specific case.
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Does SESAC represent music used in movies, television programs and related commercials?
The SESAC repertory includes a great deal of music specifically created for audiovisual productions such as films, television programs and commercial advertisements. In addition, the SESAC repertory contains a large amount of other commercial music that is often licensed by production companies for use in audiovisual content.
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What kind of websites, apps or digital services does the SESAC Digital Performance License cover?
The SESAC Internet Performance Licenses grant authorization to publicly perform SESAC represented music on websites and other internet-connected digital platforms (whether on a live or archived basis and whether pre-programmed or on demand). Common examples of music use on digital platforms include streaming full-length sound recordings, preview clips of sound recordings, music videos, television programs, movies or user-generated content containing music. Click Here to learn more or obtain a SESAC Internet Performance License.
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How are the license fees for digital services determined?
For digital services whose primary purpose of operation is to generate revenue, license fees are determined using amount of revenue generated in connection with the service. For other digital properties, license fees are generally calculated using the number of aggregate tuning hours generated in connection with the platform. Schedule “A” to the SESAC Internet Performance Licenses describe in further detail how fees are determined and paid. Click Here to learn more or obtain a SESAC Internet Performance License.
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What music does SESAC represent on my digital content business?
SESAC currently represents a significant amount of music in every musical genre. SESAC has been serving music users throughout the U.S. for over 90 years with a diversified repertory including Top 40, Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock, Country, Spanish (Pop, Regional Mexican, Tropical, Rhythmic), Blues, Jazz, Big Band, Folk, Contemporary Christian, Gospel, and many others, as well as music in movies, TV and advertising.
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How are SESAC license fees for broadcasters determined?
SESAC license fees are calculated differently for different broadcast industry segments. Generally, our license fee calculations take into account the economics associated with the particular music use, its intensity level and/or frequency.
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What if I don’t want a license?
A license with SESAC is required to perform compositions within SESAC’s repertory. Broadcast radio stations who wish to remove SESAC’s repertory from their playlists may refer to the repertory search at www.sesac.com/repertory/ or contact SESAC at legal@sesac.com to request SESAC’s repertory in a common format if needed to facilitate removal. SESAC makes available an incidental use license to broadcast radio stations to cover inadvertent use of SESAC compositions upon request.
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How do I become a SESAC affiliate?
SESAC is proud to have an amazing roster of music creators. So how do you join the team? SESAC is an invitation-only company, so the best route is to have your representative(s) (lawyer, manager, agent, etc.) contact us on your behalf. We’re sorry, but SESAC does not accept unsolicited submissions.
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I’m working with a SESAC writer. How do I open a SESAC publisher account?
If you’re working with a SESAC composer and keeping the publisher’s share, you’ll need to open a SESAC publisher account. Send an email to us at publisher@sesac.com, telling us the name and email address of the person requesting the application. It’s free to become a SESAC publisher.
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Where can I send cue sheets?
Cue sheets can be sent to cuesheets@sesac.com
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I can’t remember my login information. Who do I contact?
You can do a password reset on the login page, or you can contact your composer representative. Your affiliate number is available on the repertoire search page under your name.