Videos By Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, And More Pulled From YouTube Amid SESAC Dispute
Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Mariah Carey, and other artists just had their music videos pulled from YouTube. But why? Well, it all appears to be tied to the performing rights organization SESAC—not JAY-Z.
According to Variety, various music videos from artists, past and present, were removed from the video-sharing platform as YouTube and SESAC have yet to renew their expiring contracts. Other performers impacted by the two party’s inability to establish a new contract include Adele, YG, Nirvana, Boyz II Men, Green Day, Burna Boy, Rush, and more.
Artists such as Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé, who SESAC doesn’t represent, have had videos pulled due to the visuals being a collaboration with an SESAC musician or songwriter. When fans attempt to click on some videos from the mentioned artists, they receive a message saying, “Video unavailable. This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country.”
YouTube sent a statement to Variety, detailing the “good faith negotiations” with the SESAC.
“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.”
So, who or what is the SESAC? According to the organization’s website, the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers is a for-profit performance-rights association founded in 1930 to protect, collect, and distribute royalties for artists and license public performances.
But even with all the facts, that hasn’t stopped people from thinking that some songs being removed are part of a deeper, darker conspiracy connected to Hov. As fans attempted to play Cole’s “She Knows,” they noticed the video had been removed from YouTube.
One particular account mentioned Ibrahim Hamad, Jermaine’s manager, and told him to tell JAY-Z to “stop trippin” and put the video back on YouTube, implying that Hov was in control of music video uploads behind the scenes. Ib responded, letting them know that the SESAC was responsible—not Hov.
“That ain’t got nothing to with Hov,” he typed. “SESAC and YouTube couldn’t agree on a deal, and all SESAC-related songs are pulled down on YouTube in the US, and the she knows sample is a SESAC writer. It’s a lot of songs that’s been taken down. Let’s hope it’s back up soon, Though.”
Hip-Hop journalist Rob Markman also pleaded with fans that J. Cole’s “She Knows” was taken down due to the YouTube SESAC deal, not Roc Nation. Markman uploaded a video to YouTube, breaking down the deal and what went down.
However, that didn’t stop bullish fans from asserting that it was somehow connected to Diddy’s trial and “artists about to be exposed.” “Even if the song was removed for legal reasons, that doesn’t change the fact the industry and many artists about to be exposed,” the account typed. “Especially if Diddy is alive to go on trial. Who Rob trying to fool?”
Watch the video above.
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