YouTube Removes Music from Major Artists Amid Ongoing Licensing Dispute
- October 3, 2024
- Views: 25

In recent days, many users have noticed the sudden removal of music from some of YouTube’s most popular artists, including tracks by Adele, Green Day, and R.E.M. This unexpected move stems from a licensing dispute between YouTube and the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC), a performing rights organization.
The dispute arose as SESAC’s partnership with YouTube is set to expire soon. However, instead of waiting for the deal to run its course, YouTube has already begun pulling content from SESAC-affiliated artists. Viewers trying to access these tracks are now greeted with an error message that reads:
“This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country.”
While the partnership has yet to officially expire, Variety suggests that YouTube’s decision to remove the music preemptively might be a strategic move to gain leverage in its ongoing negotiations with SESAC. By removing content ahead of time, YouTube is likely hoping to exert pressure on SESAC through its artists. The goal appears to be to prompt these musicians to push SESAC to renew its deal with the platform.
SESAC is smaller compared to other performing rights organizations like ASCAP and BMI, with around 30,000 members and 1.5 million compositions. However, as the caliber of affected artists shows, SESAC represents a significant portion of the music market. YouTube’s decision to cut off these artists’ music could disrupt a notable segment of the industry, thereby motivating a quicker resolution.
Despite the apparent standoff, YouTube remains confident that a deal will be reached. In a statement, YouTube said:
“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 are in active conversations with SESAC and are hoping to reach a new deal as soon as possible.”
This isn’t the first time a platform has faced such challenges. TikTok, for example, went through a similar situation during its negotiations with Universal Music Group. After months of back-and-forth, they ultimately struck a deal that allowed Universal’s music to be used on TikTok.
The current dispute between YouTube and SESAC will likely play out similarly, with both parties working toward a compromise that will restore music for millions of users. Until then, fans of Adele, Green Day, R.E.M., and other SESAC artists will have to wait for the content to be made available again.