YouTube began to remove songs by famous names such as Adele, Green Day and Bob Dylan from the platform due to the expiration of licensing agreements with artists. According to Variety, as YouTube’s agreement with the European Society of Stage Writers and Composers (SESAC) nears its end, some of these artists’ songs have been blocked in the United States. However, this does not mean that the artists’ entire music catalog is affected. For example, Adele’s famous song “Rolling in the Deep” now appears on the platform with a black screen and a message saying “This video contains content belonging to SESAC. “Not available in your country.” is displayed with the message.
YouTube stated in its statement to Engadget that negotiations are continuing to make a new agreement with SESAC. A YouTube spokesperson said: “Despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach a fair agreement before the contract ended. We take copyright very seriously and that is why content represented by SESAC is no longer available on YouTube in the USA. “We continue to actively negotiate with SESAC and hope to reach a new agreement as soon as possible.” he said.
According to a source speaking to Variety, the deal has not been finalized yet and will expire within the next week. This move is seen as YouTube’s bargaining tactic. No official statement has been made by SESAC yet.
YouTube and SESAC dispute is a big loss for users
This dispute between YouTube and SESAC could affect the reach of many popular content on the platform. Blocking songs, especially from big artists, is considered a significant loss for users. YouTube’s serious take on copyrights directly impacts its relationships with artists. However, YouTube’s harsh stance may be a strategy used to increase the bargaining power of artists and music companies on the platform. The statements to be made in the coming days will show how this dispute will be resolved.
A new agreement with SESAC is critical for YouTube to continue expanding its music catalog and to protect the rights of artists. It is eagerly awaited whether popular songs will be made accessible again as a result of the negotiations between the parties.