SESAC licensing has recently gained attention in the commercial background music industry, as business music providers expand their agreements with performing rights organizations.
For businesses, this raises an important question: Does your background music provider include SESAC licensing, and how long has that coverage been in place?
In the United States, four major performing rights organizations (PROs) manage public performance rights for millions of musical works: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and Global Music Rights (GMR). Each represents different songwriters, composers, and music publishers, making comprehensive licensing an important consideration for businesses that play music publicly.
At Jukeboxy, SESAC licensing is not a recent addition.
We’ve maintained SESAC licensing since 2014, providing more than a decade of established coverage for eligible background music use.
Alongside ASCAP, BMI, and GMR in the United States, and SOCAN and Re:Sound in Canada, Jukeboxy helps businesses enjoy professionally curated background music without the complexity of managing multiple licensing agreements for their everyday music needs.
In this article, we’ll explain why SESAC licensing matters, how to verify your provider’s coverage, and why an established licensing history is worth considering when choosing a business music service.
What Is SESAC and Why Does It Matter for Businesses?
SESAC is one of the four major performing rights organizations in the United States, alongside ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), and GMR (Global Music Rights).
These organizations represent songwriters, composers, and music publishers, collecting royalties when their musical works are publicly performed, including when music is played in restaurants, stores, hotels, and other commercial establishments.
Each organization represents its own repertoire of musical works. This means that holding an ASCAP license does not automatically grant permission to publicly perform music represented by SESAC, BMI, or GMR.
For businesses, this distinction is important.
A restaurant might play hundreds of songs throughout the week, with compositions represented by several different performing rights organizations. Without the appropriate licensing, some of those performances may fall outside the business’s existing coverage.
A commercially licensed background music service that includes all four major U.S. PROs can simplify this process, allowing businesses to play music from the service’s licensed catalog without arranging separate public performance licenses for eligible background music use.
What Does a SESAC License Cover for Businesses?
A SESAC license authorizes certain public performances of musical compositions represented by SESAC, subject to the terms of the licensing agreement.
For businesses, public performance licensing is generally relevant when recorded music is played in spaces accessible to customers, employees, guests, or other members of the public.
Common examples include:
- Restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops
- Retail stores and shopping centers
- Hotels, resorts, and hospitality venues
- Offices and corporate workplaces
- Spas, salons, and wellness facilities
- Fitness center reception areas and common spaces
- Other commercial establishments using background music
However, it is important to understand that background music licensing does not necessarily cover every type of music use within a business.
Live bands, DJs, karaoke, ticketed entertainment, dancing, and instructor-led fitness classes may require additional or separate licensing arrangements.
For example, a gym using Jukeboxy to play background music in its reception area may be covered under its commercial background music subscription. Music used during instructor-led fitness classes generally requires separate licensing.
Businesses should always verify that their intended music use falls within their provider’s licensing terms.
Jukeboxy Has Included SESAC Licensing Since 2014
Jukeboxy began providing commercially licensed background music for businesses in 2013, with a mission to make professional music programming and licensing simpler for business owners.
In 2014, Jukeboxy established its SESAC licensing agreement.
Since then, SESAC coverage has been an established part of Jukeboxy’s U.S. background music service, included in subscriptions at no additional licensing charge.
This long-standing relationship reflects Jukeboxy’s commitment to responsible music licensing and supporting the songwriters and publishers whose work helps create memorable customer experiences.
For businesses, working with an established licensed music provider offers several advantages.
Instead of managing separate agreements with multiple performing rights organizations for eligible background music, businesses can use one service that incorporates the necessary licensing into its subscription.
Jukeboxy also provides professionally curated playlists, automated music scheduling, and centralized management tools designed for commercial environments.
Whether operating a single coffee shop or managing music across hundreds of locations, businesses can focus on creating the right atmosphere while Jukeboxy handles the licensing associated with its background music service.
Complete U.S. and Canadian Background Music Licensing
Music licensing requirements vary by country, and businesses operating in both the United States and Canada need to understand the organizations responsible for public performance rights in each market.
Jukeboxy maintains licensing arrangements with the major organizations relevant to its background music services in both countries.
| Licensing Organization | Region | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| ASCAP | United States | Public performance rights for musical works in its repertoire |
| BMI | United States | Public performance rights for musical works in its repertoire |
| SESAC | United States | Public performance rights for musical works in its repertoire, included with Jukeboxy since 2014 |
| GMR | United States | Public performance rights for musical works in its repertoire |
| SOCAN | Canada | Public performance rights for musical works |
| Re:Sound | Canada | Applicable public performance rights for sound recordings |
All six organizations are included in Jukeboxy’s licensing arrangements for eligible background music use in their respective territories.
This is especially valuable for businesses operating multiple locations or expanding across borders.
A retail chain with stores in both the United States and Canada, for example, can use Jukeboxy to manage its music programming while benefiting from the applicable licensing coverage in each country.
Rather than coordinating separate background music licensing arrangements at every location, businesses can manage their music through a centralized platform.
Licensing coverage remains subject to Jukeboxy’s service terms and permitted uses.
Why Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Playlists Are Not Licensed for Business Use
One of the most common misunderstandings about music licensing is the assumption that a paid music streaming subscription allows music to be played in a commercial establishment.
Services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and standard YouTube accounts are intended for personal, noncommercial use.
Even when a business owner pays for a premium subscription, that subscription does not grant the commercial playback permissions needed to use the service as background music in a business.
Can You Use Spotify or Apple Music for Business if You Pay PRO Licenses?
No. Even if a business obtains public performance licenses directly from ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR, those licenses do not authorize commercial use of personal streaming services such as Spotify or Apple Music.
Both Spotify and Apple Music explicitly restrict their consumer services to personal, noncommercial use in their terms and conditions. Paying performing rights organizations separately does not override these restrictions.
Public performance rights for musical compositions and permission to use a particular streaming platform are separate legal matters. Businesses need both appropriate music licensing and a playback service that permits commercial use.
For example, a restaurant that pays all four major U.S. PROs directly still cannot use a personal Spotify Premium subscription to provide background music for customers.
The simplest solution is to choose a commercial music streaming service specifically designed and licensed for business environments.
Jukeboxy Music for Business combines commercial music streaming with applicable public performance licensing from ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR, allowing businesses to enjoy professionally curated background music without managing separate PRO licenses for eligible use.
How to Check Whether Your Background Music Provider Includes SESAC
Not every background music provider offers the same licensing coverage.
Before choosing a service, renewing a subscription, or expanding to additional locations, business owners should understand exactly what their provider includes.
Here are five important questions to ask.
1. Which Performing Rights Organizations Are Included?
For U.S. businesses, ask whether the provider includes ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR.
These four organizations represent different repertoires, and coverage from one does not automatically extend to the others.
If a provider does not include a particular organization, determine whether additional licensing is necessary for your music use.
2. When Did the Licensing Coverage Become Effective?
A provider’s current licensing arrangements may differ from those it offered in previous years.
If your music provider recently expanded its licensing coverage, ask when the new agreement became effective and whether any additional licensing obligations apply.
Jukeboxy has maintained SESAC licensing since 2014.
3. Is Music Licensing Included in the Subscription Price?
Some music services incorporate licensing costs into their subscriptions, while other arrangements may require businesses to obtain additional licenses independently.
Ask whether the advertised subscription price includes the applicable public performance licensing for your intended background music use.
With Jukeboxy, applicable background music licensing is included in the subscription price.
4. Does the Provider Cover Canadian Locations?
U.S. performing rights licenses do not automatically provide coverage in Canada.
Businesses operating in Canada should verify the applicable licensing arrangements, including SOCAN and Re:Sound.
Jukeboxy provides licensed background music services in both the United States and Canada.
5. Can the Provider Confirm Its Licensing Coverage?
A reputable commercial music provider should be able to explain which licenses it maintains, what types of music use are covered, and which activities may require additional permissions.
Understanding these details before subscribing can help businesses avoid confusion and unexpected licensing responsibilities.
More Than Licensing: Music Designed for Your Business
Proper licensing is essential, but choosing the right background music service involves more than meeting legal requirements.
Music influences the atmosphere of a business, how customers experience the space, and how consistently a brand is represented across its locations.
Jukeboxy combines commercially licensed music with tools designed specifically for business environments.
Professionally Curated Playlists
Explore hundreds of expertly curated playlists organized by genre, mood, decade, and business type.
From sophisticated jazz for hotel lounges to upbeat pop for retail stores, Jukeboxy helps businesses select music that complements their brand and audience.
Automated Music Scheduling
Create music schedules that change throughout the day.
A café might begin the morning with relaxed acoustic music, transition to energetic selections during lunch, and finish the evening with mellow jazz.
Schedules can be customized for different days, hours, and locations.
Centralized Multi-Location Management
Businesses operating multiple locations can manage music schedules, playlists, and settings through one dashboard.
Location groups and company-approved playlists help maintain a consistent brand experience while allowing flexibility for individual venues.
Sonos and Flexible Playback Options
Jukeboxy supports Sonos systems, browser-based playback, mobile applications, and its dedicated Jukeboxy Player Box.
Authorized users can also manage Jukeboxy music playback on Sonos remotely through the Jukeboxy dashboard, even when they are not connected to the same local network.
These options make it easier for businesses to integrate licensed background music into their existing audio systems.
Licensed Music With an Established Track Record
Choosing a background music service is about more than finding playlists your customers will enjoy.
It is also about working with a provider that understands commercial music licensing and offers the tools needed to manage music confidently.
SESAC licensing is not a recent addition to Jukeboxy’s service.
Since 2014, Jukeboxy has included SESAC coverage as part of its commitment to commercially licensed background music, alongside the other major U.S. performing rights organizations.
For businesses operating in the United States and Canada, Jukeboxy brings together licensed music, professional curation, flexible scheduling, and centralized management in one platform.
Whether you operate one location or hundreds, Jukeboxy helps you create the right atmosphere while simplifying the licensing and management of your background music.
Ready to experience commercially licensed music designed for your business?
Explore Jukeboxy Music for Business and discover how our service can support your locations.
Frequently Asked Questions About SESAC Licensing
Do I Need a SESAC License if I Already Have ASCAP and BMI?
If your business publicly performs musical works represented by SESAC, you generally need appropriate SESAC coverage unless an applicable exemption or another licensing arrangement covers that use. ASCAP and BMI licenses do not automatically cover SESAC’s repertoire. Jukeboxy includes SESAC licensing for eligible background music use in its U.S. subscriptions.
How Long Has Jukeboxy Had a SESAC License?
Jukeboxy has maintained SESAC licensing since 2014, providing more than a decade of established coverage for eligible background music use.
Does Jukeboxy Include ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR?
Yes. Jukeboxy’s U.S. background music subscriptions include licensing arrangements with all four major U.S. performing rights organizations: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR, subject to the service’s licensing terms and permitted uses.
Is Jukeboxy Licensed for Background Music in Canada?
Yes. Jukeboxy provides commercially licensed background music in Canada, including applicable SOCAN and Re:Sound coverage for eligible use.
Can I Use Spotify or Apple Music in My Business if I Pay for PRO Licenses?
No. Consumer Spotify and Apple Music subscriptions are intended for personal use and do not permit commercial playback in businesses. Obtaining separate public performance licenses does not change the streaming services’ contractual restrictions.
Does a SESAC-Licensed Background Music Service Cover Live Music or DJs?
Generally, no. Background music subscriptions are designed for specific types of recorded music playback. Live performances, DJs, karaoke, dancing, instructor-led fitness classes, and certain other activities may require separate licensing.
Is SESAC Licensing Included in Jukeboxy’s Subscription Price?
Yes. Applicable SESAC licensing for eligible background music playback is included in Jukeboxy’s U.S. subscription price, without an additional SESAC licensing charge.
