SESAC
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music publishing, Performance rights organization |
| Founded | 1930 in New York, United States |
| Founder | Paul Heinecke |
| Headquarters | Nashville , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Performance rights management, Mechanical rights clearinghouse (via Harry Fox Agency) |
| Owner | The Blackstone Group |
SESAC operates as a commercial performance-rights organization within the United States. Established in 1930 under the name Society of European Stage Authors and Composers,, it ranks as the second-oldest entity of its kind in the country. SESAC currently represents a network of 30,000 songwriters and administers rights for more than one million musical works.
History
The organization was founded in New York by Paul Heinecke, a German immigrant, in 1930. Initially, SESAC's mission centered on obtaining American performance royalties for European stage authors and composers who were largely overlooked. Heinecke remained at the helm until his passing in 1972.
During the 1930s, SESAC provided gospel recordings to broadcasters to assist them in complying with Federal Communications Commission regulations. By the 1950s, it had evolved into an electrical transcription service, delivering monthly recordings to radio stations nationwide. Its artist lineup featured notable jazz and country musicians such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Chet Atkins, and Hank Garland.
Throughout the 1960s, SESAC expanded beyond its original focus by incorporating a wider range of musical genres into its catalog. Over time, its affiliates have included prominent figures like Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, The Cars, Robert Johnson, Bryan-Michael Cox, Rush, Coheed & Cambria, Mariah Carey (who departed in 2020), and Adele (since 2017).
After establishing an office in Nashville in 1964, SESAC moved its main headquarters there in 1985. Beginning in 1970, the company started representing both songwriters and publishers, placing particular emphasis on Contemporary Christian music.
In 1993, ownership changed hands when Stephen Swid, Freddie Gershon, and Ira Smith purchased SESAC, steering its direction toward mainstream music and television markets. Rizvi Traverse Management acquired a majority interest in 2013. Two years later, SESAC took over the mechanical rights clearinghouse known as the Harry Fox Agency. In 2017, ownership transitioned again when The Blackstone Group finalized its acquisition of SESAC.
2024 YouTube block
On September 28, 2024, numerous songs by various artists became inaccessible on YouTube within the United States due to a legal conflict between YouTube and SESAC. For some performers, only select tracks were removed while others remained available. Additionally, videos from artists not directly affiliated with SESAC—such as Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj—were also taken down because they featured collaborators represented by SESAC. On September 30, YouTube announced it had reached a licensing agreement with SESAC to reinstate the affected content.
Artists among those impacted include: