YouTube Faces Music Blockages Due to Ongoing Licensing Dispute

Several popular records from artists such as Adele and Kendrick Lamar have been blocked on YouTube this weekend due to an ongoing legal dispute.

The video platform is currently engaged in a legal battle with SESAC, the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers. The organization manages the public performance and playback rights for a wide range of artists. With over 15,000 affiliated songwriters, composers, and music publishers, SESAC plays a crucial role in protecting their intellectual property. The issue with YouTube arises from the failure to reach a new licensing agreement, resulting in the legal blockage of these songs on both YouTube and YouTube Music.

The blocked videos now show a black screen with the message, “Video unavailable. This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country.”

This situation is disruptive for both artists and fans. While SESAC plays an important role in protecting songwriters, disputes like this—similar to the earlier conflict between Universal Music Group and TikTok—leave millions without access to their favorite music. The breakdown between SESAC and YouTube underscores how fragile these licensing agreements can be in the digital era.

In response to online inquiries, YouTube acknowledged the issue, confirming that its music licensing agreement with SESAC had expired without reaching new terms, despite efforts to find a resolution. Although YouTube reassured users that discussions are ongoing, there is no clear timeline for when the affected songs will be restored.