SESAC rates for Performance Licenses rise 10.4% through 2026

New SESAC rates for the performance licences of the 10,000 U.S. radio stations under the Radio Music License Committee umbrella have been finalized.

SESAC Performance Licenses rise 10.4% through 2026

New SESAC rates for radio have ben set at 0.2824% of net revenue. That’s up 10.4% from the previous rate set in 2016 of 0.2557%. Non-music stations are projected to continue to get a 77.5% fee discount when the full terms are finalized.

Set by an arbitration panel, the rates run through 2026 and apply retroactively to January 1, 2023. They cover over-the-air broadcast, HD multicasting, and simulcast streaming.

Last month SESAC reached a similar rate agreement with YouTube.

Statement from SESAC

“The arbitration award reflects another failure of the RMLC to impose regulated rates on SESAC since SESAC and the RMLC concluded their settlement in 2015. The panel awarded SESAC an over 10% increase while rejecting the RMLC’s attempts to lower the rate, turn back the clock, and yoke SESAC to the regulated rates paid by ASCAP and BMI. In addition, the revenue base subject to the fee is significantly greater than the revenue upon which station groups had sought to pay under the 2017 award.” – Scott Jungmichel, President & COO, SESAC Performing Rights

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a Berklee College Of Music professor.