YouTube has removed several popular songs from its platform due to a legal dispute with SESAC, a performance rights organization that manages copyright issues for musicians and publishers. Notable songs affected include Adele’s “Someone Like You,” Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” Bob Dylan’s “I Want You,” and R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion.” Other artists impacted by the block include Alice in Chains, Burna Boy, and Fleetwood Mac.
Users attempting to access these tracks encounter a screen that reads “Video unavailable” along with the message, “This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country.” While some songs are completely blocked, not all tracks have been affected.
SESAC is one of several organizations that help songwriters safeguard their work and collect royalties. This situation is reminiscent of earlier disputes, such as Universal Music Group’s conflict with TikTok earlier this year, which resulted in the removal of millions of songs, including those by major artists like Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny. The ongoing disagreement between SESAC and YouTube over renewal terms has led to the removal of content associated with SESAC, in accordance with copyright law.
Users have expressed their frustrations on social media platforms like Reddit, where discussions about the block surfaced starting earlier today. Although YouTube has not yet issued an official statement, its X account acknowledged the issue, stating, “we hear you. our music license agreement with SESAC has expired without an agreement on renewal conditions despite our best efforts.” The account further noted that efforts to reach a renewal are ongoing but provided no timeline for updates.
Such blocks occur frequently when copyright organizations and platforms cannot finalize licensing agreements, with these disputes varying in length from a few days to several months. A notable example is the Warner Music Group’s removal of music videos from YouTube for nearly a year between 2008 and 2009.