It is about time for the agreement that the platform has with the performing rights group SESAC to expire.
Due to the fact that YouTube’s agreement with the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC) (the organization that represents performance rights) is getting closer and closer to its expiration date, songs from well-known musicians have started to disappear from the platform. There have been some songs by artists such as Adele, Green Day, Bob Dylan, R.E.M., Burna Boy, and others that have been prohibited in the United States, according to Variety. However, it is not generally the case that their whole catalogs are affected. Videos that have been removed, such as Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” now display nothing but a blank screen with the following message: “This video contains content from SESAC.” It is not available in the country that you are in.
In a statement that was provided to Engadget, a spokeswoman for YouTube stated that the platform has been in discussions with SESAC to renew the partnership; nevertheless, “despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach an equitable agreement before its expiration.” Content that is represented by SESAC is no longer accessible on YouTube in the United States as a direct result of our stringent adherence to copyright regulations. We are currently engaged in discussions with SESAC, and we are quite hopeful that we will be able to establish a new agreement as soon as possible. The arrangement, on the other hand, has not even expired yet, according to a source who talked to Variety; it is expected to expire anytime during the following week, and the action on YouTube’s part may be a bargaining strategy. There has been no statement issued by SESAC as of yet.