MESAM

MESAM (Türkiye Musiki Eseri Sahipleri Meslek Birliği) is a Turkish copyright collection society based in Istanbul. It was established in 1986 as the first professional association in Turkey dedicated to musical works, and today it is the largest such body in the country. MESAM represents composers, lyricists, arrangers and music publishers, collectively managing their rights under Turkish Law No. 5846. Its core activities include licensing musical works for public performance, broadcast and mechanical reproduction, collecting royalties from music users, and distributing those royalties to rights holders. The society also works to promote copyright awareness and combat unauthorized use of music. MESAM is a member of CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, and of BIEM, the International Bureau of Mechanical Reproduction Rights. Through reciprocal representation agreements with foreign societies, MESAM protects its members' rights in more than 100 countries and makes the global repertoire legally available to Turkish music users. The organization reports over 15,000 members and a repertoire of approximately 2 million works, with rights protection activities spanning 195 countries. Governance is provided by a board of directors, a supervisory board, an honor board and a technical-scientific board. As of the latest available information, the chairman is Recep Ergül, with İskender Paydaş and Selim Çaldıran serving as vice-chairmen. MESAM continues to modernize its operations, including the digitalization of royalty processes through the Octopus software, and engages with contemporary issues such as generative AI and transparency in copyright management.

MESAM was founded in 1986 as Turkey's first professional association in the field of musical works. The organization submitted its founding application on 11 August 1986 and began operations on 8 December 1986. It was established by artist Yıldırım Gürses and his team, who sought to create a collective management body to protect the rights of composers, lyricists, arrangers and publishers. At the time, it was one of the first four professional associations in Turkey and the first specifically for music. In its early years, MESAM focused on building a legal and operational framework for collective rights management in Turkey, based on Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works. The society worked to raise awareness among music creators and users about copyright, and to establish licensing mechanisms for public performance and broadcast. A major step in MESAM's international integration came in 1989 when it joined CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers. This membership allowed MESAM to enter into reciprocal representation agreements with foreign societies, enabling it to protect its members' rights abroad and to represent the global repertoire in Turkey. MESAM is also a member of BIEM, the International Bureau of Mechanical Reproduction Rights, covering mechanical rights. Over the decades, MESAM grew to become the largest music copyright collection society in Turkey, representing over 15,000 members and a repertoire of approximately 2 million works. It expanded its international reach to more than 100 countries through bilateral agreements, and its rights protection activities now span 195 countries. The society has also diversified its services, offering members benefits such as private health insurance and social security guidance. In recent years, MESAM has embraced digital transformation. In January 2025, it announced the digitalization of its royalty processes using Octopus software, aiming to increase transparency and efficiency. The organization has also engaged with emerging challenges such as generative AI, joining CISAC and other global royalty organizations in responding to the EU on GenAI-related copyright issues in August 2025. In March 2026, a report by Prof. Dr. Cahit Suluk on MESAM and the copyright world was published, and in January 2026 MESAM published its AI principles. The society continues to organize events, workshops and award ceremonies, including plans for its 40th anniversary gala and composition competition in 2026.

• MESAM submits its founding application, gaining legal personality.

• MESAM begins operations as Turkey's first music copyright collection society.

• MESAM joins CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers.

• MESAM visits the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

• MESAM holds a workshop on music licensing practices in publishing.

• MESAM digitalizes royalty processes with Octopus software.

• MESAM joins CISAC and global royalty organizations in responding to the EU on GenAI.

• MESAM renews private health insurance for members for 2025–2026.

• MESAM publishes its AI principles.

• Prof. Dr. Cahit Suluk publishes a report on MESAM and the copyright world.

Turkey's first and largest music copyright collection society, protecting the rights of music creators and publishers.

• Public performance licensing

  Licensing of musical works for live and recorded public performance.

• Broadcast licensing

  Licensing of musical works for radio and television broadcast.

• Mechanical reproduction licensing

  Licensing of musical works for reproduction on physical and digital media.

• Royalty distribution

  Collection and distribution of royalties to member rights holders.

1. 1MESAM Official Websitemesam.org.tr
2. 2MESAM Hakkımızdamesam.org.tr
3. 3MESAM Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Türkiye Musiki Eseri Sahipleri Meslek Birliği - Wikipediatr.wikipedia.org