Songs by Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Inexperienced Day and Mariah Carey, amongst others, are at the moment unavailable on YouTube due to a contract dispute between the platform and SESAC, a performing rights group.
A YouTube spokesperson shared in a press release with The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday, “We have held good faith negotiations with SESAC to renew our existing deal. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach an equitable agreement before its expiration. We take copyright very seriously and as a result, content represented by SESAC is no longer available on YouTube in the US. We are in active conversations with SESAC and are hoping to reach a new deal as soon as possible.”
Some songs by a number of artists have been met with this message when trying to be performed: “This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country.”
SESAC within the U.S. collects royalties and helps defend copyrights on behalf of songwriters and publishers. On the group’s web site, it mentioned, “SESAC currently licenses the public performance of more than 1.5 million songs on behalf of its 15,000+ affiliated songwriters, composers, and music publishers, which include such familiar names as Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, RUSH, Adele, Jack Harlow, Ariana Grande, Disclosure, Zac Brown, Rosanne Cash, Hillary Scott of Lady A, Lee Brice, Margo Price, Nicky Jam, Blanco Brown, and many more.”
All through the day on Saturday, the TeamYouTube account on X (previously Twitter) has been responding to platform customers’ frustrations concerning the scenario. “Our music license agreement with SESAC has expired without an agreement on renewal conditions despite our best efforts. for this reason, we have blocked content on YouTube in the US known to be associated with SESAC – as in line with copyright law,” their message reads.
THR has additionally reached out to SESAC for remark.
An identical authorized dispute between Common Music Group and TikTok occurred for a number of months earlier this 12 months earlier than they lastly reached a music licensing settlement. Throughout that point, some artists’ music was additionally not accessible on the social media platform.
