SESAC to negotiate digital licensing agreements on behalf of BMG in Australasia

By Emmanuel Legrand

Bertelsmann's music division BMGhas expanded its digital licensing agreement with SESAC Digital Licensing, a division of Nashville-based US music rights society SESAC, to represent BMG's Anglo-American repertoire in Southeast Asia and Australia/New Zealand. The deal follows an initial agreement covering the Indian market in early 2019.

  On behalf of BMG, SESAC Digital Licensing will "negotiate license agreements with international online service providers and with the leading local online service providers in the respective markets." BMG said this will allow the company to collect and deliver revenues "even more effectively and transparently for its publishing clients."  

  Royalties will be processed through Mint Digital Services, the alliance between SESAC and Swiss authors' rights society SUISA. Mint administers license agreements for online services by drawing on a database that includes approximately 20 million documented musical works.

  Alexander Wolf, President of International, SESAC and The Harry Fox Agency, said the expanded collaboration "will not only provide efficiencies within the territories, it will also deliver value to BMG's clients with faster royalty payments through Mint."

  BMG COO Ben Katovsky added: "With SESAC and Mint we have found an ideal partner for digital licensing and royalty administration in these rapidly growing regions. We continually seek the best digital opportunities for our clients and are excited to deliver an even better service to them through this new partnership."