If you went on YouTube recently to watch Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” for the 50th time or get in your feels with Adele (it’s ok, we don’t judge), you might have noticed something strange. Users across the United States were unable to access their favorite music videos the weekend of September 28th, and it’s all thanks to a standoff between the video platform and the SESAC (also known as The Society of European Stage Authors and Composers).
YouTube vs. SESAC
On September 28, YouTube released a statement about what was happening with the SESAC on social media.
While the company said online that it is doing everything possible to resolve the issue soon, others think YouTube might be playing the long game.
A person “close to the situation” told Variety on September 28 that “YouTube’s recent action may be a strategic move in its ongoing negotiations with SESAC as the previous deal between the two parties does not expire until next week.”
Nevertheless, not being able to play popular music videos is pissing a lot of YouTube users off. The drama is being compared to the stand-off between TikTok and Universal Music Group earlier this year. They finally reached a new deal in May after TikTok users lost access to music from artists including The Weeknd, Metro Boomin, and SZA for a few months.
Responding to the Youtube and SESAC mess, X user FiscalPhenom said in a September 29 post that “this is a significant blow for music lovers and creators alike. I hope they can work it out soon!”
What in the world is the SESAC?
The SESAC are one of three major performing rights organizations in the country along with BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) and ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers). The “big three” organizations are responsible for securing royalties and protecting copyrights for the music publishers and songwriters they represent.
SESAC is different from its peers, though. It “is far smaller than ASCAP and BMI — with approximately 30,000 members and 1.5 million compositions while ASCAP has nearly 800,000 members — but as the caliber of artists affected by the block shows, it represents a comparatively large percentage of the marketplace.”
SESAC is also a for-profit entity, but the organization claims that being for-profit helps “drive efficiency in licensing for music users.”
The SESAC, BMI, and ASCAP can block public music performances, from music played at your local Cheesecake Factory to what you hear on the radio. However, “such bans are laborious and difficult to enforce, even for a platform as large as YouTube, as evidenced by the seemingly scattered blockage of SESAC material on the platform at the moment.”
The bans can get even more complicated when they involve different copyright holders (like a live Green Day performance from the BBC that is still somehow available) or when songwriters are affiliated with the SESAC, making songs from other artists unavailable by association.
This isn’t YouTube’s first rodeo
YouTube has been in numerous legal issues when it comes to music on the platform. In 2009, the UK-based songwriter and publisher collection society PRS (Performing Right Society) signed a licensing deal with YouTube that saw thousands of music videos return to the platform after they went back and forth for several months. However, its dispute with the German collection society GEMA finally reached its licensing agreement after seven years, making certain music videos available again in the region.
All’s well that ends well
Luckily, though, those in the U.S. didn’t have to worry about a lack of music videos to play at the pregame for long. YouTube reached a deal with the SESAC and announced the happy news on its social media platforms to its relieved users on September 30.
Scott Jungmichel, SESAC performing rights president and COO, released their own statement on the new deal. While Youtube said the songs disappearing was due to the lack of a deal renewal, Jumgmichel made it clear that the songs’ removal was a decision from Youtube alone.
“We have reached an agreement with YouTube to equitably compensate SESAC’s songwriters and publishers for the use of their music … During our negotiations with YouTube, our affiliates’ works were unilaterally removed by YouTube ahead of the contract end date of October 1, 2024. YouTube has begun the process of reinstating videos featuring these songs,” the statement read.
The organizations are probably not going to be best bros any time soon. Nevertheless, at least the music side of the platform for those in the United States is getting back to normal—for now.
