YouTube to make SESAC-represented videos available again after deal struck

YouTube is restoring its missing songs by SESAC artists including Adele and Nirvana after reaching an agreement with the performing rights organization.

It's been about 24 hours since songs by SESAC artists, including Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Green Day, Kanye West and Nirvana, went blank on YouTube in the United States after the company failed to reach a renewal agreement with the PRO. But now, after striking a deal with SESAC, these songs will be re-released across the platform.

“We have reached an agreement with YouTube to fairly compensate SESAC's songwriters and publishers for the use of their music. We appreciate the support and patience of our partners and the artists who perform these songs,” Scott Jungmichel, president and COO of SESAC Performing Rights, said in a statement Digital Music News. “During our negotiations with YouTube, our partners' works were unilaterally removed from YouTube before the end of the contract on October 1, 2024. YouTube has begun reinstating videos featuring these songs.”

Strangely, YouTube actually removed the videos before the contract expired, and only the work of certain artists represented by SESAC appeared to be affected, not the entire catalog.

SESAC also noted that no content was ordered to be removed, nor does the PRO have technical authority to remove videos. This suggests that YouTube's shutdown was preventative. However, had no agreement been reached, these and other videos represented by SESAC would have been in breach of contract as of the expiration date of the previous agreement.

“If you live in the United States, we are pleased to announce that YouTube has reached an agreement with SESAC,” YouTube said in a statement on its social channels. “Content (that was previously blocked) will be restored to YouTube services in the next day or two. We thank you for your patience.”

Sources close to the matter reported DMN While it is unclear why YouTube took the initiative to remove the content, it may have been a “show of force” to bring negotiations to an acceptable conclusion.

Another source pointed to aggressive takedown efforts by Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube and Google, who also oversees YouTube Music. Further, Digital Music News has learned that YouTube appears to have rejected an interim license offered by SESAC before a proper agreement was reached.

SESAC has existed as a performance rights organization since 1930. It currently licenses the public performance of over 1.5 million songs on behalf of more than 15,000 affiliated songwriters, composers and music publishers. It was acquired by private equity firm Blackstone in 2017.