YouTube and SESAC have resolved their fee dispute and the performing rights organization’s catalog will soon be back on the YouTube platform, according to representatives from both sides.
“We are pleased that SESAC reconsidered our proposal,” a YouTube representative said in a statement. “We have reached an agreement and content will be back soon. We appreciate everyone’s patience during this time.”
SESAC executives also said they were satisfied with the agreement. “We have reached an agreement with YouTube to fairly compensate SESAC songwriters and publishers for the use of their music,” Scott Jungmichel, president and chief operating officer of SESAC’s performing rights division, said in a statement. reached,” he said. “We appreciate the support and patience of our affiliates, as well as the artists who perform these songs. While we negotiate with YouTube, we are grateful for the support and patience of our affiliates, as well as the artists performing these songs. “Our affiliates’ works were unilaterally removed by YouTube. YouTube has begun the process of restoring videos featuring these songs.”
The deal comes after YouTube removed some of SESAC’s repertoire, including songs by Bob Dylan, Adele, REM, Green Day, Zac Brown and more. When YouTube users try to play a video that includes music by an artist signed to SESAC, they are greeted with the message “This video contains content from SESAC. Not available in your country.”
Artists and songwriters who are not signed to SESAC, such as J Cole, Sam Smith, and Kanye West, also had their songs removed because they were credited to co-writers who were signed to PRO. Additionally, sources say even some SESAC songwriters whose publishers have direct deals with YouTube have had their songs removed.
A YouTube representative says it will take a day or two to get everything back online. As it stands, some videos still display a “not available in your country” notice, but other songs by SESAC-signed songwriters will once again be available on the service. Apparently, YouTube was still in the process of removing videos when this deal was signed, and while some notable SESAC songs were removed over the weekend, other songs by the same artists and even songs from the same album Even was still available.
Sources said Lyall Cohen, YouTube’s global head of music, called managers, labels and publishers over the weekend to warn them of the impending removal. When executives asked why Take the Music had been removed, Cohen apparently replied that YouTube and SESAC were too far apart in price negotiations.
Meanwhile, other industry insiders said they heard a general agreement had been reached on Saturday morning (September 28) before YouTube began making sweeping deletions of SESAC songs.
