Royalty coverage

Does SESAC collect US mechanical royalties?

Partly

Not by SESAC itself. The Harry Fox Agency is a separate company under the same parent and a NON-EXCLUSIVE mechanical agent with its own eligibility bar. Since the MMA, US digital mechanicals run through The MLC's blanket licence regardless.

What this stream is. The songwriting side of a US stream, paid under the statutory blanket licence administered by The MLC. Separate from the recording payment above, and paid to whoever registered the WORK.

Worth knowing about SESAC

  • ★ SESAC is NOT an option for most artists. It is INVITATION ONLY and does not accept unsolicited applications, so comparison articles listing it as a third choice alongside ASCAP and BMI are misleading.
  • The claim that SESAC covers mechanicals through HFA is over-stated: HFA is a separate affiliation with a commercial-release requirement, it is non-exclusive, and post-MMA the US digital blanket mechanical goes through The MLC anyway.
  • SESAC is for-profit and does not publish its rates, so you cannot model your income before signing.

Read from SESAC's own documentation on 2026-08-13. Check it yourself — and if it has changed, tell us.

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