Several YouTube videos featuring music from artists like Adele, Green Day, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, and R.E.M. have become unplayable in the United States since Saturday.

For instance, attempting to play Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone," whether from the classic album or a live performance, results in a message stating: “This video contains content from SESAC. It is not available in your country.” In some cases, viewers even see a pre-roll ad before encountering this message.

Notably, not all videos featuring these artists are blocked, and it remains unclear whether the playable ones are exempt from the current dispute or if they have simply been overlooked.

In statements to the press and on social media, YouTube attributed the issue to failed negotiations with SESAC, a performing rights organization representing over 35,000 music artists and publishers.

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach an equitable agreement before its expiration,” YouTube stated. “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 hope to reach a new deal soon.”

This situation mirrors a previous dispute between Universal Music Group and TikTok earlier this year, which led to UMG pulling songs by artists such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Ariana Grande from the platform while negotiating royalties.

Unlike UMG, SESAC is not a record label; it is an organization that collects royalties for songwriters and publishers, similar to ASCAP and BMI. In addition to the artists mentioned, SESAC also represents Burna Boy, George Clinton, Kenny Rogers, Kings of Leon, and many others.