YouTube has recently made an announcement regarding the return of music from several prominent artists to its platform in the United States. This decision comes shortly after the removal of tracks from Adele, Bob Dylan, Kendrick Lamar, and others due to a disagreement over legal rights. The platform stated that it has successfully negotiated terms with the Organization of European Theatre Writers and Music Composers, an organization that manages and distributes royalties to creators in the music industry.
According to a message shared on X, the video-sharing platform confirmed the successful settlement with SESAC. The content from the artists represented by this organization that had previously been unavailable will gradually become accessible again within a few days.
Just a few days prior, YouTube had indicated it could not finalize an agreement with SESAC, stating it had made considerable efforts. Consequently, music from significant artists including Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Nirvana, Bob Dylan, Green Day, Mariah Carey, and R.E.M. was made inaccessible to users in the U.S., in compliance with copyright regulations. When users attempted to access the affected tracks, they were met with a notice indicating that the content was unavailable due to SESAC restrictions.
Amid the recent removal of music, many users turned to online platforms to share their feelings of frustration. Numerous complaints highlighted how the removal disrupted curated playlists, while others expressed intentions to cancel their premium memberships. Some users even requested refunds or compensation but were left unsatisfied with the responses.
During this time, YouTube maintained that negotiations were ongoing in hopes of reaching an agreement. The latest update is promising, as it indicates that music from the previously mentioned artists will soon be available once again.