YouTube blocks music videos from major Artists Amid licensing dispute

Since Saturday, YouTube has unavailable several music videos from top artists including Adele, Green Day, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, and R.E.M to American viewers. For instance, efforts to stream Bob Dylan’s iconic song “Like a Rolling Stone” today produce a message stating that the video is unavailable due to content being identified by the music rights service SESAC. Not all videos of such artists are apparently affected, though: some might be exempt, or perhaps particular problems represent but part of an unfolding issue.

YouTube identified its decision to delist songs under a licensing dispute with SESAC, representing more than 35,000 artists and publishers. YouTube says in a statement, “Despite our best efforts, we were unable to come to a fair agreement before the previous one expired. We take copyright matters seriously, and therefore SESAC-represented content is currently unavailable on YouTube in the U.S. We’re actively negotiating with SESAC to secure a new deal as soon as possible.”

This follows another similar incident earlier this year between Universal Music Group and TikTok which saw songs by artists like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish get removed briefly. Unlike Universal Music Group, SESAC is not a record label but rather a music rights organization responsible for the collection of royalties on behalf of its songwriting and publishing clients, like ASCAP and BMI. It also represents other high-profile artists such as Burna Boy, George Clinton, Kenny Rogers, and Kings of Leon, among many more.