Why did YouTube remove Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and Adele’s ‘Hello’s music video?

SESAC, originally an acronym for the Society of European Stage Authors & Composers, is a performance rights organization (PRO) in the U.S. Unlike its sister organizations ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) and BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.), SESAC is a for-profit entity and is the smallest of the three major American PROs. The organization started as a way to represent European composers of classical and jazz music whose works were being performed in the U.S. This was unique at the time, as other PROs focused primarily on American music.

Over the years, SESAC broadened its catalog to include not just composers from Europe but also American songwriters, film and television composers, and publishers. In recent years, SESAC has expanded its services and scope. It acquired the Harry Fox Agency, a major mechanical rights organization in the U.S., in 2015. This acquisition allowed SESAC to offer mechanical licensing and royalty collection. With a catalog that boasts over 1.5 million songs and a roster of more than 15,000 d songwriters, composers, and music publishers, SESAC plays a pivotal role in the music licensing ecosystem.

While we can appreciate the legal complexities of music licensing, it’s hard not to feel a sense of loss when some of our favorite songs disappear overnight. SESAC’s iron grip also extends to countless lesser-known artists and songwriters, those unsung heroes who pour their hearts and souls into their craft. For these musicians, losing access to YouTube’s reach and exposure is a big blow. As ionate music lovers, we can only hope that YouTube and SESAC will find a way to bridge the chasm that divides them.