In a recent development, YouTube users may have noticed the
absence of certain audio tracks from popular artists such as Adele, Green Day,
and R.E.M. This sudden removal is the result of an ongoing licensing dispute
between YouTube and the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers
(SESAC), as their partnership is set to expire soon.
Interestingly, YouTube has preemptively removed music by
SESAC artists, even though the current licensing agreement has not yet expired.
Users attempting to access these tracks are met with an error message, leaving
many wondering about the reasons behind YouTube's decision.
According to Variety, YouTube's move to pull SESAC artists'
music before the licensing agreement's expiration may be a strategic
negotiating tactic. By removing the content early, YouTube could be aiming to
strengthen its position in the ongoing negotiations with SESAC.
Although SESAC is smaller than other performing rights
associations like ASCAP and BMI, it represents a significant portion of the
marketplace, with approximately 30,000 members and 1.5 million compositions.
The caliber of artists affected by the removal highlights the importance of
SESAC's roster.
YouTube's preemptive removal of SESAC artists' music may be
an attempt to prompt these artists to pressure SESAC into reaching a new
agreement quickly. Publishers hold significant power in the music industry, and
they are likely to exert pressure on SESAC to resolve the dispute swiftly.
YouTube remains optimistic about reaching a new deal with
SESAC, stating, "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."
While YouTube expects a resolution in the near future, there
is a possibility that the dispute could persist, as seen in the case of
Universal's removal of music from TikTok, which lasted several months during
tense negotiations. However, given SESAC's relatively smaller size compared to
other performing rights organizations, it is unlikely that they hold the same
level of bargaining power.
For now, music by several major artists remains unavailable
on YouTube in the United States, potentially impacting user experience and
artists' reach on the platform. As negotiations continue, both YouTube and
SESAC will need to find a mutually beneficial agreement to restore access to
the removed content.
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