SESAC is a for-profit performance-rights organization in the United States.[1] Founded in 1930 as the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers,[2] it is the second-oldest performance-rights organization in the United States.[3] SESAC has 30,000 songwriters and more than 1 million compositions in its catalogue.
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded |
|
| Headquarters | |
Key people | John Josephson, Chairman and CEO |
| Parent | The Blackstone Group |
| Website | www |
History
editThe Society of European Stage Authors and Composers was founded by Paul Heinecke, a German immigrant, in New York in 1930.[4] SESAC originally strove to support underrepresented European stage authors and composers with their American performance royalties, hence the original name. Heinecke led the firm until his death in 1972.
In the 1930s, SESAC helped broadcasters satisfy Federal Communications Commission requirements, supplying them with gospel recordings. The business evolved beyond gospel recordings and European composers during the 1940s, and in the 1950s SESAC established its electrical transcription service.[4][5] On a monthly basis, SESAC recorded "transcriptions" of its affiliates and distributed them, on disc, to radio stations across America. Among its transcribed artists were jazz and country performers: Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Coleman Hawkins, Chico Hamilton, Jackie Wilson, Chet Atkins, and Hank Garland.
As its original objective diminished in the 1960s, the company entered other musical genres. Since then, the company has represented a wider range of writers and genres. SESAC's affiliates roster includes Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, The Cars, Robert Johnson, Bryan-Michael Cox, Nate "Danja" Hills, Rush, Coheed & Cambria, Young Love, The Faint, Rapture, Mariah Carey (left SESAC in 2020 to join ASCAP[6]) and Adele (since 2017, formerly was with BMI).[7]
The company moved into new headquarters in Columbus Circle in Midtown Manhattan and opened an office in Nashville, Tennessee in 1964. Six years later, the company began representing songwriters in addition to its traditional business of representing publishers. With a focus on Christian songwriters, the company was an early player in the Contemporary Christian music format. That evolution led the company to move its headquarters to Nashville in 1985.
In 1993, the company was purchased by Stephen Swid, Freddie Gershon, and Ira Smith. The new owners shifted the company's focus toward more mainstream music, and later television.
In 2013, Rizvi Traverse Management acquired a majority stake in SESAC.[8]
In 2015, SESAC acquired the mechanical rights clearinghouse Harry Fox Agency.[9]
In 2017, The Blackstone Group acquired SESAC.[10]
2024 YouTube block
editOn September 28, 2024, songs by several artists became unplayable on YouTube in the United States due to a legal dispute between YouTube and SESAC.[11] For some affected artists, only certain songs were blocked, while others remained available.[12] Some artists who are not represented by SESAC, such as Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj, had some of their videos pulled from YouTube due to the song being a collaboration with a songwriter or musician represented by SESAC.[13] On September 30, YouTube announced that they had reached a deal with SESAC to unblock the affected videos.[14]
The following artists were cited as being affected by the block:
- Adele[15]
- Alice in Chains[16]
- Boyz II Men[13]
- Zac Brown[17]
- Burna Boy[15]
- Mariah Carey[11]
- Rosanne Cash[17]
- J. Cole[13]
- Neil Diamond[18]
- Disclosure[17]
- Bob Dylan[15]
- Fleetwood Mac[16]
- Ariana Grande[17]
- Green Day[15]
- Jack Harlow[17]
- Kendrick Lamar[11]
- Nirvana[11]
- Margo Price[17]
- R.E.M.[15]
- Rush[15]
- YG[13]
- Porter Robinson[19]
References
edit- ^ Music in the Marketplace Archived 2007-06-08 at the Wayback Machine. Better Business Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-07-20.
- ^ Dow, Cindy (29 April 2010). "Copyright issue brings an end to music at cafe". The Standard-Times. New Bedford, Massachusetts. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
- ^ About us. SESAC. Retrieved on 2007-07-20.
- ^ a b "SESAC Focus" (PDF). SESAC. Summer 2005. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
- ^ Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1950). The 1950 Radio Annual. Radio Daily Corp. P. 10.
- ^ "Global Superstar and Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter Mariah Carey Switches to ASCAP". ascap.com. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
- ^ "Adele Signs With SESAC For U.S. Representation". www.musicconnection.com. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
- ^ Rizvi Traverse Management Buys 75% Stake In SESAC: Report Ed Christman, Billboard, January 7, 2013
- ^ SESAC Buys the Harry Fox Agency Ed Christman, Billboard, July 7, 2015
- ^ Blackstone's Latest Move Has the Look of a Hit Jennifer Saba, New York Times, January 5, 2017
- ^ a b c d Thomas, Carly (28 September 2024). "Songs by Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, More Blocked by YouTube Due to Legal Dispute". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ Singh, Surej (30 September 2024). "Hundreds of iconic music videos pulled from YouTube in the US over copyright dispute". NME. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d Griffin, Marc (30 September 2024). "Videos By Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, And More Pulled From YouTube Amid SESAC Dispute". Vibe. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Spangler, Todd; Aswad, Jem (September 30, 2024). "YouTube Inks Deal With SESAC to Restore Music Videos for Adele, Nirvana, Bob Dylan and More in U.S." Variety. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Aswad, Jem (28 September 2024). "Songs by Adele, Bob Dylan, Green Day, Many More Blocked by YouTube in Legal Dispute". Variety. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ a b Oganesyan, Natalie (28 September 2024). "YouTube Blocks Songs From Adele, Bob Dylan, Green Day & More In SESAC Dispute". Deadline. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Vito, Jo (30 September 2024). "YouTube Pulls Hundreds of Music Videos Amid SESAC Copyright Disput". Consequence. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Li, Abner (28 September 2024). "YouTube Music missing songs due to expired 'SESAC' license". 9 to 5 Google. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ G, Andy (14 October 2024). "Inside YouTube's SESAC Showdown: The Real Story Behind Thousands of Song Removals and What Happens Next". Headphonesty. Retrieved 27 November 2024.