What Is SESAC? Understanding the Organization Behind the Blocks
SESAC Meaning and Role in the Music Industry
The term SESAC stands for the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers, and it is one of the key performing rights organizations (PROs) in the United States. Founded in 1930, SESAC works to license the public performance of musical works, collecting royalties on behalf of songwriters, composers, and publishers. Essentially, anytime a song is played, performed, or broadcast publicly—whether on the radio, streaming platforms, or in restaurants—a license from the copyright holder is required. SESAC handles these licensing agreements and ensures that rights holders are fairly compensated.
To understand the scope of the issue, it’s important to consider what SESAC does. The organization provides a blanket license agreement, which is considered the most convenient and cost-effective way to obtain the authorization to publicly perform all of the copyrighted music within its repertoire. This license covers performances across multiple mediums, from streaming services to live venues. Without a valid agreement in place, YouTube is legally obligated to remove SESAC-affiliated content to avoid copyright violations.
Why YouTube Songs Are Being Blocked: The Licensing Dispute Explained
As of this week, YouTube’s licensing agreement with SESAC expired, leading to the removal of SESAC-affiliated songs from both YouTube and YouTube Music in the United States. YouTube confirmed the situation with the following statement with 9to5Google:
“We have held good faith negotiations with SESAC to renew our existing deal. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach an equitable agreement before its expiration. We take copyright very seriously and, as a result, content represented by SESAC is no longer available on YouTube in the US. We are in active conversations with SESAC and are hoping to reach a new deal as soon as possible.”
YouTube spokesperson.
Impact on YouTube and YouTube Music Users
“Video Contains Content From SESAC”: What Does This Mean?
Users are seeing various error messages like “This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country.” This notice has appeared on countless songs from top-selling artists, including Adele, Bob Dylan, and Nirvana. While some users have noted missing tracks on YouTube Music, others are experiencing playback issues on the main YouTube platform. Unlike typical copyright issues, there is no clear warning in some cases—videos appear playable until you hit the play button, only to encounter the frustrating error.
Which Songs and Artists Are Affected?
SESAC, though smaller than similar PROs like BMI and ASCAP, has an impressive roster of artists and over 1.5 million songs under its management. Impacted albums include classics from artists such as R.E.M., Green Day, Jack Harlow, Neil Diamond, and Kendrick Lamar. For example, Adele’s older albums are almost entirely blocked, while some of her newer tracks remain available. It’s a scattered effect, which has confused many users who are unsure why certain songs are impacted while others are not.
Licensing Disputes Are Not New In This Industry
The SESAC dispute is not the first time YouTube has faced challenges with music licensing. Similar issues have arisen with other PROs and major music labels. For instance, a prolonged licensing battle between YouTube and Warner Music Group back in 2008 led to a nine-month removal of Warner’s content from the platform. Earlier this year, TikTok experienced a similar standoff with Universal Music Group (UMG), which resulted in millions of songs being pulled temporarily.
When Will the Music Be Back?
At the moment, there is no definitive timeline for when YouTube and SESAC will resolve their licensing dispute. While YouTube is known for negotiating vigorously to secure better terms, SESAC may also stand its ground to protect the interests of its songwriters and publishers. In some cases, these types of disagreements can be resolved in a matter of days or weeks. However, as seen in past disputes, they could also drag on for several months.
What Should Users Do?
If you’re a YouTube or YouTube Music subscriber and your playlists have suddenly been disrupted, there are a few things you can do:
- Check Alternative Platforms: While some SESAC-affiliated content may be unavailable on YouTube, it might still be accessible on other streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon Music.
- Stay Informed: Keep an eye on YouTube’s official channels and social media for updates. The story is still developing, and negotiations are ongoing.
- Provide Feedback: If this situation has disrupted your experience, share your concerns with YouTube. The more feedback they receive, the more pressure there is to resolve the issue swiftly.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
