Uncovering the Mystery Behind YouTube’s Disappearing Hit Songs: Expert Insights
YouTube Music Licensing Dispute: What’s Happening and Why
TL;DR: A licensing dispute between YouTube and SESAC has led to the removal of many popular songs from YouTube and YouTube Music in the US. Users attempting to play affected songs encounter an error message, and some songs no longer appear in search results.
The Issue
Over the past few days, I’ve encountered a frustrating problem on YouTube: many of the songs and nonstop mixes I used to enjoy were suddenly unavailable. When I tried to play them on either YouTube or YouTube Music, an error message appeared stating, "This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country." What made it even more confusing was that these videos and songs were still showing up in search results, my home page feed, and my playlists.
The Cause
It turns out it’s a widespread issue, and it’s happening because of a licensing dispute between YouTube and SESAC, the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers. SESAC represents songwriters and publishers, ensuring their rights are protected under copyright law. Essentially, if music is being played in public, it needs a license from the copyright holder. SESAC provides a blanket license agreement, which many businesses find convenient and cost-effective for public performances of their songs.
The Impact
The impact of this dispute is significant, with a vast number of songs seemingly removed from both YouTube and YouTube Music in the US. Popular artists like Adele and Nirvana have been particularly affected, with many of their hit songs now completely disappearing from search results. However, the situation seems somewhat inconsistent, as songs from other SESAC-affiliated artists like Kesha are still accessible.
The Future
As of now, it remains uncertain when this issue will be resolved. Have you noticed any other artists or songs that seem to have disappeared? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments.
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