Strictly Confidential, one of Europe’s leading music publishers, represents the music of the film “The Artist” worldwide, as part of its publishing collaboration with Thomas Langmann’s French production company LA PETITE REINE.

After notable international successes with films such as “Asterix & Obelix at the Olympics” and “Mesrine”, “The Artist” has been beating records for La Petite Reine in the number of nominations – and notably for music. A triple award winner at the Golden Globes, “The Artist” has now been nominated in ten categories at the Oscars, Césars and picked up awards at the Baftas. The interest has caused the movie to be re-released in Belgium, notably.
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The New York Post is reporting that the smallest of the US performing rights societies, SESAC, is up for sale again. Whereas the asking price was $700 million some time ago, it has now reportedly dropped to $500 million. This sets the price at about ten years of annual profit, currently $50 million  year.

SESAC is privately owned and home to a number of high-profile songwriters such as Bob Dylan. One of the difficulties of selling it is that its natural partners, such as major labels, would have difficulty arguing that there isn’t a conflict of interest in representing both their commercial interest and those of rights holders. Warner has reportedly expressed interest.

But given that there is a growing trend towards integration at the level of PROs across the globe, would this not be the time for  a large body such as Germany’s Gema, Japan’s Jasrac or France’s Sacem to pitch? It would certainly benefit the flow of information and rights in both directions – a key issue in the sector.