Frequently Asked Questions: Internet Licensing

Q: Why do I need a license for my web site?

A: Musical compositions, like other intellectual property, belong to their owners. U.S. Copyright Law grants certain exclusive rights to copyright owners, including the right to publicly perform and the right to authorize others to publicly perform the work. Web Sites that publicly perform music must obtain a license before copyrighted compositions are performed.

Generally, in the United States, and in other countries of the world, permission is obtained through a licensing arrangement with the respective performing rights organization. On behalf of many thousands of songwriters and music publishers, SESAC offers a blanket license agreement that authorizes the performance of all the compositions in the SESAC repertory. The SESAC Performance License is recognized in the industry as the least expensive, and most convenient method for music users like you to obtain the permission that is required by law.

Q: How can using SESAC music add value to my web site?

Copyrighted music is a popular driving force behind the explosive growth of the World Wide Web. And, as technology continues to improve, sound and video are becoming seamlessly integrated with web content. As a result, music can be a welcome addition to any successful business model. The internet will increasingly come to depend on music in much the same way that radio and television rely on music for programming and content. Music can bring even more added value as consumers become more actively involved in the content experience on your website.

Q: What kinds of music does SESAC represent?

A: SESAC represents some of the most popular and widely played music in the world. This wide variety includes all genres from Country to Heavy Metal, Adult Contemporary to Gospel. The SESAC Internet Performance License allows you to efficiently and effectively use all of this music for a relatively low fee.

Please see our REPERTORY section for specific artists.

Q: What kind of web sites does the On Line SESAC Internet Performance License cover?

A: The On Line SESAC Internet Performance License grants authorization to publicly perform SESAC affiliated music on individual websites. This license covers such uses as; live or archived (on demand) streaming, music videos and song previews.

Q: How can I know what my license fee for this license will be?

A: You can either download and print out the SESAC Internet Performance license, or you can submit the license on line.

The Schedule A of the license describes how fees are determined. The fees are based on the total number of hours streamed, and the number of ways your website utilizes and benefits from using copyrighted music.

Q: Is the SESAC license the only license my web site will need?

A: The SESAC Internet Performance License only gives permission to perform copyrighted music that is represented by SESAC. Also, this license does not grant permission for the performance of the Sound Recording (record, CD etc.). Additional licenses may need to be secured for your website.