24 Hours Later, YouTube Is Now Reinstating SESAC-Repped Videos After Securing a Deal — So What the Hell Happened?
Photo Credit: Szabo Viktor
YouTube is reinstating its missing songs from SESAC-repped artists like Adele and Nirvana after reaching an agreement with the performing rights organization. That’s good news for everyone, though the strange incident is raising a bevy of questions.
It’s been about 24 hours since songs from SESAC-repped artists, including Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Green Day, Kanye West, and Nirvana, appeared blank on YouTube in the United States after the company failed to reach a renewal agreement with the PRO. But now, after making a deal with SESAC, those songs are being reinstated across the platform.
“We have reached an agreement with YouTube to equitably compensate SESAC’s songwriters and publishers for the use of their music. We appreciate the support and patience of our affiliates, as well as the artists who perform those songs,” said Scott Jungmichel, President & COO, SESAC Performing Rights, in a statement to Digital Music News.
“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.”
Strangely, YouTube actually removed the videos ahead of its contract expiration date, and only certain SESAC-repped artists’ work seemed to be affected, rather than the entire catalog.
Now that the short-lived impasse is over, Digital Music News is learning some strange details about the standoff. According to multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiation, SESAC never ordered that anything be taken down nor does the PRO technically have the power to remove videos. That indicates the takedown was preemptive on YouTube’s end — though had a deal not been reached, those videos and others represented by SESAC would have been in breach of contract upon the previous deal’s expiration date.
“If you’re in the United States, we’re happy to share that YouTube has reached a deal with SESAC,” said YouTube in a statement on its social channels. “Content (that was previously blocked) will be restored to YouTube services over the next day or two. We appreciate all your patience.”
But why yank the content in the first place, then claim the deal had expired when it hadn’t? Addressing that riddle, sources close to the matter further told DMN that, while it’s unclear exactly why YouTube took the initiative to remove the content, it may have been a “show of force” to push the negotiation to an agreeable conclusion.
Another source pointed to aggressive takedown efforts driven by Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube and Google, who also oversees YouTube Music. One source noted that Cohen took the unusual step of warning the labels that SESAC-repped content would be removed. Further, Digital Music News has learned that YouTube apparently rejected an interim license offered by SESAC, before a proper agreement was reached.
YouTube has not returned a detailed request for comment from DMN.
SESAC has existed as a performance rights organization since 1930. It currently licenses the public performance of over 1.5 million songs on behalf of more than 15,000 affiliated songwriters, composers, and music publishers. It was acquired by private equity firm Blackstone in 2017.
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