Songs by Adele, Bob Dylan, Green Day, R.E.M., Burna Boy, and many more are now unplayable in the U.S. This is all because of a copyright fight between YouTube and a group called SESAC, which protects songwriters and music publishers.
Fans trying to listen to these artists’ songs on Saturday were greeted with the disappointing message: “This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country.” Ouch.
Not the First Time This Has Happened
This YouTube dispute is not the first copyright clash we’ve seen recently. Earlier this year, TikTok went head-to-head with Universal Music Group, which dragged on for months before they made peace.
YouTube, in a statement to Variety, explained their side of the story: “We’ve been trying hard to strike a new deal with SESAC, but we haven’t been able to agree just yet. Because of that, we had to pull SESAC-represented songs from YouTube in the U.S. We’re still talking with them and hope to reach a new agreement soon.”
SESAC hasn’t said anything yet, but sources claim that the previous deal doesn’t actually expire until next week. So, some are thinking that YouTube’s pulling these songs early might be a negotiation strategy. What a move, right?
What Is SESAC and Why Does It Matter?
For those wondering, SESAC is smaller than other performing rights organizations like ASCAP and BMI, but don’t be fooled—they represent some big names in the music world. With 30,000 members and 1.5 million compositions, their impact is clear. SESAC, along with ASCAP and BMI, makes sure songwriters get paid when their music is played, whether it’s on streaming services, the radio, or even in restaurants.
Blocking songs on YouTube is a tricky process, though. It’s not easy to stop public performances of music, especially on a platform as massive as YouTube. That’s why some songs seem to be affected, while others are still up and running.
Why Are Some Videos Still Available?
It’s not a simple cut-and-dry situation. For example, some live Green Day recordings made by the BBC are still available, which suggests that different copyright holders might be involved. There are also hundreds of videos to block, so it takes time. In fact, certain songs by Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj are also caught in the mix because they involve SESAC-affiliated songwriters.
Fans Speak Up
It didn’t take long for fans to notice the missing videos, and they quickly voiced their frustrations online. YouTube’s support team responded on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “Our music license agreement with SESAC has expired, and we haven’t been able to agree on new terms yet. Because of that, we’ve had to block SESAC-related content in the U.S.” They reassured fans that they’re working hard to fix the situation but couldn’t give any dates for when everything would be resolved.
These Disputes Happen All the Time
Copyright clashes like this are nothing new. When record labels, publishers, and platforms can’t agree on terms, it usually leads to temporary blocks like what we’re seeing now. Most of the time, it doesn’t last long—just a few days or weeks. But, in some cases, it drags on.
For instance, back in 2008, YouTube and Warner Music Group had a similar fight, which ended with Warner pulling their videos for a whopping nine months. Thankfully, that got sorted out, and things have been more positive ever since. YouTube even hired former Warner Music boss, Lyor Cohen, to lead their music division in 2016, which has helped smooth things over with the music industry.
When Will It Be Fixed?
While YouTube’s relationship with the music world has improved, fights like this still happen. Unfortunately, fans are stuck waiting until YouTube and SESAC can come to an agreement. Fingers crossed, it won’t be too long before your favorite tunes are back.
Until then, we’ll just have to wait and hope they make up soon!