In a surprising development, songs by major artists including Adele, Bob Dylan, Green Day, Burna Boy, and many others are currently unplayable on YouTube in the U.S. This disruption stems from an ongoing legal dispute between YouTube and the performing rights organization SESAC, which represents songwriters and music publishers.
On Saturday, users attempting to play various tracks were met with the message: “This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country.” While not all songs by these artists have been blocked, the restriction affects a significant portion of SESAC’s catalog.
In a statement, a YouTube representative explained the situation: “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.” They added that they are actively working towards a new deal with SESAC to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
SESAC, which is smaller than its counterparts ASCAP and BMI, manages approximately 30,000 members and 1.5 million compositions. However, the organization represents an impressive roster of high-profile artists, making this block especially impactful. The nature of these rights disputes is legally complex, as music platforms like YouTube must work with performing rights organizations to obtain licenses that allow them to stream music publicly.
Fans immediately noticed the block, with some expressing frustration on social media. YouTube responded via its TeamYouTube account on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We hear you…our music license agreement with SESAC has expired without an agreement on renewal conditions despite our best efforts.”
This type of block is not new in the industry. Earlier this year, a similar dispute between TikTok and Universal Music Group lasted several months before an agreement was reached. Additionally, back in 2008, YouTube faced a nine-month standoff with Warner Music Group. While it’s uncertain how long this current situation will last, it serves as a reminder that negotiations between tech platforms and music rights organizations are still a delicate and occasionally contentious process.
