YouTube is blocking some songs from popular artists a week before a licensing contract expires. This could be a negotiation tactic, a new report suggests.

YouTube reached a deal with performing rights organization SESAC on new licensing terms, which will restore music videos for artists that went dark on the platform over the weekend. Songs by Adele, Nirvana,

YouTube's previous deal with SESAC, a performance rights organization that represents over 15,000 artists, was valid until Oct. 1. However, the Google-owned platform "unilaterally removed" many tracks before that date while negotiations for a new deal were still ongoing, Scott Jungmichel, SESAC president and COO, confirmed in a statement.