Update: These songs are available again on YouTube after the SESAC settlement.
Recently, YouTube and YouTube Music users in the US faced a frustrating issue: many popular songs and music videos are blocked due to licensing problems with SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers). The situation has left fans unable to play tracks from well-known artists like Adele, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Green Day, and Kendrick Lamar.
The problem stems from SESAC, which is the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers. They manage the licenses for a large number of artists, and their website claims to represent over 15,000 songwriters and music publishers. Unfortunately, YouTube hasn’t been able to reach a new deal with SESAC to continue offering their music in the US.
As a result, users attempting to play these songs are met with an error message stating that the content is not available in their region. This has been a hot topic on social media, particularly in the YouTube Music subreddit, where frustrated fans are sharing their experiences.
In response to the situation, a YouTube spokesperson explained that the platform has been trying to negotiate a new agreement with SESAC. However, despite their efforts, they couldn’t finalize the deal before it expired.
YouTube takes copyright matters seriously, and as a consequence, SESAC’s content is currently unavailable in the US. YouTube hopes to reach a new agreement soon, but there’s no clear timeline for when the blocked songs will return.
Interestingly, a source indicated that YouTube’s contract with SESAC may not actually expire for another week, leading some to speculate that the current block could be a strategy in their negotiations. This uncertainty leaves users in a tough spot. While some might consider using a VPN to access the music, many are looking for a more reliable solution.
With this ongoing issue, some users are contemplating switching to other music streaming services. For now, fans are left waiting, hoping for a resolution that will restore access to their favorite artists.
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