Banned Bands List
This is a list of artists, labels, or specific songs that have previously caused strikes or were marked as blocked. Note that it doesn’t necessarily mean that all their content will stay that way, but it’s important to be cautious, especially when strikes are involved.
If you see a block or strike on your channel, please let us know and see Copyright Issues for how to deal with the issue. Also feel free to reach out in the Discord if you need any help.
Copyright Strike Possible
AC/DC
Anohni / Antony and the Johnsons
Bryan Adams (confirmed by RVZN 03-2023) Web Sheriff (not at time of posting but maybe months later. Letter sent to WS without response.)
Coldplay - May not be an issue anymore
Eagles - Possibly not as risky as they used to be, but still issuing some strikes as of Jan 2025
Ed Sheeran
Guns n’ Roses
Dream Theater - Needs confirmation on which songs - Many are currently online, apparently with no issue
Humanity’s Last Breath - Apparently a channel was taken down for posting instrumentals from their latest album
Unique Leader Records (Sony Canada)
Jimi Hendrix (became available in 11-2022, confirmed RVZN/Nomad)
MIKA
Monaco
Olly Murs
Ozzy Osbourne
Richard Cheese - Not actively watched, but enforced swiftly when pointed out to his team
Ride the Cyclone (musical, Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond) - Strike issued by WMG for Uranium Suite 8/2024
Robbie Williams
Supertramp (Evergreen Social Media Associates)
Take That (I wonder if they say the band’s name when they issue the strikes? Probably so…)
Tool (Rico Management)
Your Favorite Martian: copyright takedown issued w/ 7 days to remove before strike given
Zero 7 (NewStateEntLtd)
Tyler the Creator: all songs will receive a copyright strike
CHROMATICS
kavinsky
Lindsey Buckingham
otoboke beaver
Slipknot - The End. So Far (2022)
Yoshiki, HYDE - Red Swan
Arno Elias - El Corazon
Garth Brooks - Not clear how often, it’s known that keepthebestalive got one once
ELP - Still You Turn Me On
J. D. Souther
PRO8L3M - Agora/RWH Records
Ras Sparrow
Some Bizzare Records/Stevo Pearce - Includes some albums by Coil, Einstürzende Neubauten, Soft Cell, etc. May strike with 7-day notice
Pearl Jam - Apparently sent CC a warning that they were going to issue strikes
Strike Log
These are specific instances of strikes received by creators. This will likely be organized better later, and possibly replace the Strike Possible list when there is enough data. Ask on Discord how to report to this list or use the regular feedback process.
Date |
Artist |
Title |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
2025-04-26 |
Bryan Adams |
Summer of 69 |
|
2025-03-23 |
Schmekel |
You’re Not The Only Bear I Fisted |
|
2025-03-21 |
Acid Bath |
Scream of the Butterfly |
|
2025-03-20 |
Acid Bath |
Bleed Me An Ocean |
Rotten Records |
2025-02-20 |
Mariya Takeuchi |
Plastic Love |
|
2025-01-22 |
Eagles |
Heartache Tonight, Desperado, Wasted Time |
|
2024-10-27 |
Kate Bush |
Wuthering Heights |
|
2024-10-27 |
a-ha |
The Sun Always Shines on TV |
Reinstated after appeal |
2024-08-20 |
Brooke Maxwell & Jacob Richmond |
The Uranium Suite, Noel’s Lament |
Multiple from Ride The Cyclone musical |
2024-07-04 |
Acid Bath |
The Blue |
Rotten Records |
2024-05-11 |
Richard Cheese |
People Equal Shit |
|
2024-04-29 |
Monaco |
Junk |
Issued by “David Potts Peter Hook” |
2024-03-16 |
Kavinsky ft. Lovefoxxx |
Nightcall |
|
2024-03-16 |
Otoboke Beaver |
If you light the heart, turn it off and go home |
|
2024-03-16 |
CHROMATICS |
CHERRY |
|
2024-03-16 |
Lindsey Buckingham |
Trouble |
|
2024-03-16 |
SIX9INE ft Nicki Minaj |
FEFE |
|
2024-03-06 |
Antony and the Johnsons |
Hope There’s Someone |
|
2024-02-28 |
Tyler, the Creator |
911 Mr. Lonely, After the Storm, Earquake, I think, New Magic Wand, OKRA, PERFECT, POTATO SALAD, SEE YOU AGAIN, TROUBLE ON MY MIND, WUSYANAME, YONKERS |
|
2024-02-28 |
Yoshiki feat. Hyde |
Red Swan |
|
2024-01-01 |
Emerson, Lake & Palmer |
Still…You Turn Me On |
|
2024-01-01 |
Eagles |
The Last Resort |
|
2023-09-05 |
Richard Cheese |
Insane In The Brain |
|
2023-03-29 |
Bryan Adams |
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You |
|
2023-01-09 |
Tool |
Schism |
|
2022-06-23 |
Mike Patton |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme (Shredder’s Revenge OST) |
|
2022-06-14 |
Cola Boyy |
Mailbox |
|
2022-04-04 |
Tool |
Right In Two |
|
2022-04-05 |
Tool |
The Pot |
|
2022-02-01 |
Arno Elias |
El Corazon |
Worldwide Blocks
Linda Ronstadt
Bob Dylan - Some tracks may be blocked, but many seem ok
Michelle Shocked (while she doesn’t strike, claim, or block, it’s still for the best to avoid her.)
The Damned - Neat Neat Neat seemingly specifically for some reason except Japan
King Crimson - “Starless (Abridged)” (confirmed RVZN 05-2023)
King Crimson - Moonchild
Prince (much of the world but still allowed on YouTube)
The Fratellis (Confirmed AVD 01-2024 for song I Guess… I Suppose… on YouTube)
Métisse - Boom Boom Bâ
Nick Cave - Many tracks blocked
Fever Ray - Keep the Streets Empty for Me
IAMX - You Can Be Happy (WMG, 8/2024)
Judee Sill - Jesus Was a Crossmaker US only
Linda Rondstadt - You’re No Good
Rivers Cuomo - Blast Off!
Shelley Fabares - Johnny Angel
The Orwells - Who Needs You
The Stoney Poneys - A Different Drum
The White Stripes - Apple Blossom
Devildriver - Wishing
AC/DC - It’s a Long Way to the Top
Muse - The Handler
Muse - Mercy
AC/DC - Mistress For Christmas
AC/DC - Gone Shootin’
Ozzy Osborne - Let It Die
Ozzy Osborne - Lay Your World On Me
Ozzy Osborne - Not Going Away
Bill Withers - Ain’t No Sunshine
Don Henley - Nobody’s Business
The Beatles - Some of these aren’t blocked anymore, but many still are, so definitely do a test upload before creating the whole karaoke track
John Lennon - Mother - RVZN got a block that doesn’t show up in Studio and doesn’t list the label/artist. He tried a reupload and got the same result
PRO8L3M - Noc
Quebonafide - Romantic Psycho
Smashing Pumpkins - Seem to arbitrarily block and unblock content over time
De La Soul - Reservoir Media Management - Sometimes block/unblock content
The Pogues - Transmetropolitan
Steam Powered Giraffe - many songs as of ~May 2025
Panic At the Disco! - Don’t Let the Lights Go Out (Oct 2022) - WMG on behalf of Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic
CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy) - Planta album (all songs, Mar 2025)
How to Use this Info
Basically, “be careful”. The exact meaning of that depends on your risk tolerance. For the most part, the only risk of copyright blocks is wasted effort, but three copyright strikes causes your whole channel to be taken down.
If a track is likely to be blocked, it’s usually a good idea to do a test upload of just the audio (and music video if you will be using it as a background video). Mark it as unlisted or private when uploading. Wait for it to finish Content ID and make sure it’s not blocked. If it’s not blocked, you’re unlikely to get a copyright block on the final track (though it’s still not impossible as manual blocks can still be applied later).
If a track is likely to get a strike, there’s no real way to “test” it. Sometimes bands/labels issue strikes years after upload too, so it’s always risky uploading tracks for bands that have previously issued them even if you’ve had them for a while. One mitigation some channels will do is to avoid uploading more than 2 tracks for any band that they think may strike. This way, they can’t instantly cause the 3 strikes needed to take down the channel (though multiple bands/labels in combination still can).