Songs by major artists like Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Green Day and Mariah Carey are returning to YouTube. These tracks were unavailable to listeners for a period due to a contract disagreement between YouTube and SESAC.
On Monday (September 30, 2024), a YouTube spokesperson confirmed that the issue has now been resolved. This news means content from some of the music industry’s most influential artists will soon be accessible again.
What is SESAC?
SESAC, which stands for the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers, is a music rights organization based in the United States. It plays a key role in helping songwriters, composers, and music publishers earn royalties whenever their music is publicly performed.
This includes plays on the radio, in live performances, on TV shows, and on digital platforms like YouTube. SESAC is one of the three major performing rights organizations in the U.S., alongside ASCAP and BMI.
However, unlike its counterparts, SESAC operates on an invitation-only basis, meaning it selects which songwriters and publishers it represents.
Impact on YouTube users
During the dispute, many users trying to access music associated with SESAC on YouTube were met with an error message. This message read: “This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country.”
Such a message is an indication of copyright restrictions, and it signaled to users that the content was temporarily blocked due to the licensing issue.
The problem arose when the music licensing agreement between YouTube and SESAC expired, and both parties were unable to reach a new deal in time. As a result, YouTube had to remove any content associated with SESAC’s artists to comply with copyright law.
TeamYouTube addresses concerns
Previously, as users continued to express their frustration on social media, the TeamYouTube account on X responded to their concerns.
“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.”
With the resolution of this dispute, YouTube users can soon enjoy songs by some of their favorite artists once again. As music streaming remains a critical way for artists to reach their audience, these agreements are vital for both creators and listeners.
For now, it seems that YouTube and SESAC have found common ground, allowing music to return to YouTube.
