Why Were Adele, Green Day, Bob Dylan and More Music Videos Removed from YouTube? Will YouTube Renew SESAC?
Jourdan Aldredge
Oct 15, 2024
In a move that isn’t surprising to anyone who follows the fascinating yet complex world of music licensing for video, there were several reports the other week of YouTube unilaterally removing hundreds (if not thousands) of music videos removed from YouTube and YouTube Music as part of a negotiation with the performing rights organization SESAC.
So, for YouTube users looking for music from various artists and content creators looking to feature the music of these performers, it sounds like songs by big-name artists like Adele, Green Day, Bob Dylan, and many more were at least temporarily taken down.
Let’s explore a bit more about what happened here with YouTube and this SESAC organization. We’ll also share how you can ensure that the music you use in your content on platforms like YouTube will always be safe and not liable to be taken down.
What is the SESAC, and why is SESAC banned on YouTube?
Let’s start by discussing the SESAC and how it works with music rights. SESAC stands for the “Society of European Stage Authors and Composers” and has existed since the 1930s. According to its website, SESAC licenses the public performances of more than 1.5 million songs on behalf of over 15,000 affiliated songwriters, composers, and music publishers.
Like other music organizations like ASCAP and BMI, SESAC represents some major artists in its portfolio, as many YouTubers have noticed over the past week when many of these artists’ songs were removed from the platform.
To name a few, SESAC represents music from Adele, Bob Dylan, Green Day, R.E.M., Burna Boy, and Rush, as well as certain songs associated with acts like Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, and Kanye West.
It’s also important to note that SESAC was acquired by the private equity firm Blackstone in 2017, which perhaps explains why these negotiations are happening now.
Will YouTube Renew SESAC? A Statement from YouTube
While it does appear that things have been resolved, as The Verge reports, in an original statement shared with Variety, a spokesperson for YouTube had this to share:
“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.”
This might have just been an intense negotiation tactic, but despite its resolution, it does cast quite a bit of doubt as to what music is usable on YouTube and how easily even big-name artists’ can have their music videos removed from YouTube.
Solution: use royalty free music from Soundstripe
Overall, this whole episode has proven once again that the solution for those using songs in YouTube videos and content will always be royalty free music provided by music licensing companies like Soundstripe.
With our music, creators get fully licensed and cleared songs and sound effects that are 100% ready for YouTube—or anywhere else that they want to post, stream, or broadcast.
And, as a bonus, if you’re affected by popular artists’ music tracks being taken down in YouTube content, here are some pop-friendly royalty free music tracks that we’d highly encourage you to check out and consider using instead of these more unreliable big-name performers’ recordings.
Royalty free pop songs for YouTube videos
Description: A medium-energy pop song that is best described as fun and happy. Synth and bass are the primary instruments in this track.
BPM: 142
Key: C Minor
Description: A high-energy pop song that is best described as fun and happy. Bass and bass guitar are the primary instruments in this track.
BPM: 120
Key: Ab/G# Minor
Description: A low-energy pop song that is best described as sad and romantic. The guitar and piano are the primary instruments on this track.
BPM: 80
Key: C Major
Description: A high-energy, electronic song that is best described as fun and happy. Synth and electric guitar are the primary instruments in this track.
BPM: 115
Key: Eb/D# Minor
Description: A low-energy, electronic song that is best described as reflective and quirky. The guitar and ukulele are the primary instruments in this track.
BPM: 93
Key: A Major
Description: A high-energy, hip-hop song that is best described as fun. Electronic drums and drums are the primary instruments in this track.
BPM: 170
Key: A Minor
Description: A low-energy, electronic song that is best described as happy and chill. Synth and bass are the primary instruments in this track.
BPM: 137
Key: A Minor
Description: A medium-energy, electronic song that is best described as angry and fun. Synth and bass are the primary instruments in this track.
BPM: 120
Key: E Minor
Description: A medium-energy rock song that is best described as angry and reflective. The guitar and electric guitar are the primary instruments on this track.
BPM: 165
Key: B Major
Description: A low-energy rock song that is best described as reflective and fun. The guitar and electric guitar are the primary instruments on this track.
BPM: 140
Key: A Major
More playlists and resources for YouTube music
Also, to go along with the tracks recommended above. Here are some pop-ready playlists to browse for even more catchy tunes.
Description: Whether you want to stay in tune with the freshest stuff in Soundstripe's library or just want a playlist handpicked by people with superb taste, you’re in the right place.
Description: Throwback music inspired by the Early 2000s. Like, so fetch.
Description: Hip-Hop, Rap, and Trap bops with creative flow. Some tracks contain explicit lyrics.
Description: Turn up the jams with these 90s-inspired tracks. It's all that and a bag of chips.
Description: Do you wish you could be like the cool kids? We can't help you, but here's what they're listening to.
Finally, to wrap things up, here are some additional resources for working with YouTube and using music in your videos of all types from the Soundstripe blog: