Monetize › Rights & royalties admin
SESAC
The selective, invite-only US PRO — for-profit, smaller repertory, known for negotiated rates. Not a door a new writer knocks on, but part of the map of who collects what.
- Best for
- Negotiated-rate PRO membership if they invite you. Established or fast-rising songwriters, producers and composers who have measurable commercial activity, strong industry representation or an existing relationship that can lead to an invitation.
- Skip if
- You are uninvited — join ASCAP or BMI instead. You are an emerging songwriter who needs immediate, open enrollment or does not have a manager, attorney, publisher or representative who can approach SESAC. ASCAP, BMI or another open PRO will be more accessible.
- First move
- Join ASCAP or BMI now; revisit if invited. Have your manager, attorney, publisher or other representative contact SESAC with evidence of your catalog, placements, airplay, streams, cuts and upcoming opportunities. If invited, compare the affiliation term, exit provisions and royalty treatment with your current PRO before switching.
- Watch out
- You generally cannot affiliate with SESAC while simultaneously belonging to ASCAP or BMI as a songwriter. SESAC primarily collects public-performance income; US mechanical royalties, master royalties and neighboring-rights income require separate registrations or services. Its private status also means less public visibility into distribution formulas than some member-governed alternatives.
- Reach
- Established
- When
- Worth it once you are building a team.
- Based in
- United States