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YouTube has secured a new licensing deal with the SESAC, restoring music videos for artists removed in the United States over the weekend.
The video-sharing platform announced that previously blocked media will be available again across its services within the next day or two.
If you’re in the United States ➡️ ️we're happy to share that YouTube has reached a deal with SESAC. Content (that was previously blocked) will be restored across YouTube services over the next day or two. We appreciate all your patience 🙏
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) September 30, 2024
Scott Jungmichel, Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC) president and COO, indicated that during negotiations, YouTube independently took down affiliate works ahead of the contract’s expiration on October 1, 2024. He added that YouTube is now reinstating videos featuring these songs. The terms and duration of the renewal agreement with SESAC for both YouTube and YouTube Music in the US were not disclosed.
A statement from our President and COO, Scott Jungmichel pic.twitter.com/yME7lTR5vQ
— SESAC, Inc. (@sesac) September 30, 2024
Safeguarding Songwriters’ Rights
Performing rights organizations accumulate royalties and defend copyrights for songwriters. They can block music performances on streaming platforms like YouTube when licensing agreements expire, ensuring that artists receive proper compensation.
Founded in 1930, SESAC manages public performance licenses for over 1.5 million songs by prominent artists, representing 30,000 members and their compositions. The expiration of its agreement with YouTube resulted in the temporary removal of songs by Adele, Kanye West, Nirvana, Green Day, Bob Dylan, and others on September 28. Artists like Kanye West, J. Cole, and Sam Smith had songs removed due to credited co-writers affiliated with SESAC. Additionally, some SESAC-associated songwriters and their publishers with direct deals with YouTube also faced takedowns.
