Songs by Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Green Day, and Mariah Carey Unavailable on YouTube
Songs by popular artists such as Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Green Day, and Mariah Carey are currently unavailable on YouTube. This is due to a contract dispute between the platform and SESAC, a performing rights organization.
YouTube’s Statement on the Dispute
A YouTube spokesperson shared in a statement with The Hollywood Reporter that negotiations with SESAC to renew their existing deal have been ongoing. However, despite their best efforts, an equitable agreement could not be reached before the expiration of the deal. YouTube takes copyright seriously, and as a result, content represented by SESAC is no longer accessible on the platform in the US. The platform is actively engaging in discussions with SESAC to reach a new agreement promptly.
Impact on Users
Users attempting to play songs by certain artists may encounter a message stating, “This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country.” This restriction is a direct result of the contract dispute between YouTube and SESAC.
SESAC’s Role in Protecting Copyrights
SESAC in the U.S. plays a crucial role in collecting royalties and safeguarding copyrights on behalf of songwriters and publishers. The organization licenses the public performance of over 1.5 million songs for more than 15,000 affiliated songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Notable names represented by SESAC include Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Adele, and many others.
Response from TeamYouTube
The TeamYouTube account on X (formerly Twitter) has been actively addressing user frustrations regarding the situation. They explained that the music license agreement with SESAC expired without renewal conditions agreed upon, leading to the blocking of SESAC-associated content on YouTube in the US, in compliance with copyright laws.
Similar Disputes in the Industry
A comparable legal dispute between Universal Music Group and TikTok occurred earlier this year, lasting several months before a music licensing agreement was reached. During this period, certain artists’ music was also unavailable on the social media platform.
FAQs
Q: Why are songs by Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Green Day, and Mariah Carey unavailable on YouTube?
A: The unavailability of songs by these artists on YouTube is a result of a contract dispute between the platform and SESAC, a performing rights organization.
Q: How is SESAC involved in protecting copyrights?
A: SESAC in the U.S. collects royalties and licenses the public performance of songs on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers, including renowned artists like Bob Dylan, Adele, and Neil Diamond.
Q: Is there a possibility of the content being restored on YouTube?
A: YouTube is actively engaging in discussions with SESAC to reach a new agreement and potentially restore the content in the future.
Q: How does this dispute compare to previous industry conflicts?
A: Similar disputes, such as the one between Universal Music Group and TikTok, have occurred in the industry, leading to temporary unavailability of certain artists’ music on platforms.
Credit: www.hollywoodreporter.com
