Music lovers are going through a tumultuous time online right now. On Sunday, not only did Spotify go down (although it was quickly fixed), but YouTube also suddenly stopped offering many popular songs. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like this problem will be corrected that easily.
YouTube users in the United States got an unwelcome surprise this weekend when the streaming platform suddenly blocked a large amount of music. Many videos are now inaccessible, replaced by black screens and gloomy notifications, whereas before they could be easily accessed.
“This video contains content from SESAC,” YouTube’s notice reads. “Not available in your country.”
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SESAC is a music licensing organization that handles performance rights and royalties for thousands of artists. Although SESAC was originally founded as the Society of European Stage Writers and Composers, it has since expanded to represent many non-European artists.
Unfortunately, the licensing agreement between YouTube and SESAC is coming to an end, and the two have been having trouble reaching an agreement on a new deal. Without a deal, YouTube will no longer be able to host SESAC covers of songs.
“Our team has been working hard over the past few months to renew our agreement with SESAC,” the official TeamYouTube account wrote. “Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have not yet been able to agree on the terms of a new agreement. Therefore, we have Certain music content on YouTube needs to be blocked in the United States.”
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All kinds of music have been influenced by the neighborhood, from Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea’s “Problem,” Green Day’s “American Idiot,” to REM’s “Losing Iconic songs like “My Religion,” as well as Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.”
The official video isn’t the only one affected either. All videos using SESAC-licensed audio will no longer be accessible, and fan-edited music videos and the artist’s own music videos will also be deleted. The cover is also blocked, so you can’t even enjoy KIDZ BOP’s rendition of “Wake Me Up When September Ends.”
It’s unclear when this issue will be resolved. TeamYouTube said that while discussions with SESAC are ongoing, they “have not confirmed any firm dates for future updates,” however, a source revealed type Claiming that YouTube’s agreement with SESAC actually doesn’t expire until next week, it’s speculated that the early removal may be a negotiating tactic.
If so, it won’t win them any goodwill. Many YouTube users expressed anger over the sudden cut of the music video, with some threatening to cancel their YouTube Premium subscriptions.
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Mashable has contacted YouTube and SESAC for comment.
Earlier this year, TikTok ran into similar music licensing issues with Universal Music Group (UMG). After the partnership expired, UMG pulled its catalog from the platform, bringing TikTok’s health economy to a standstill and countless videos being muted. The two eventually reached a deal in May to return UMG customers’ music to TikTok, but it’s certainly been a strange few months for the video-sharing app.
Until YouTube and SESAC also come to an agreement, the former’s music landscape will sound very different.
