BMG has signed a deal with American collecting society SESAC which will see the latter's Mint business managing the digital licensing of the former's Anglo-American songs catalogue in India.
Many music publishers now license their Anglo-American repertoires to digital services directly in various markets. However, that is usually done in partnership with a collecting society, because societies and publishers together control the rights that the streaming platforms need to exploit.
BMG works with German society GEMA on direct licensing in multiple territories, but is now partnering with SESAC and Mint in India. Mint is itself a joint venture between two collective management organisations, SESAC and Swiss society SUISA.
"The new licensing agreement with SESAC through Mint for the emerging Indian market is a huge benefit for our publishing clients and delivers on BMG's core values of fairness, transparency and service", says BMG General Counsel Ama Walton. "In addition, both international and national music users can now efficiently license the repertoire of our Anglo-American writers in India".
Alexander Wolf, President of SESAC International, adds: "With the world's largest, most authoritative database of musical works linked to recordings, Mint and SESAC Digital Licensing are looking forward to cooperating with BMG in this emerging marketplace. We're excited BMG has selected SESAC as its trusted partner and we are happy to provide our expertise in a market with so much potential".