LONDON, UK — In a powerful demonstration of solidarity with his fanbase, legendary Queen guitarist Sir Brian May publicly condemned major social media platforms, including YouTube and Instagram, for systematically deleting fan-uploaded videos of Queen + Adam Lambert concerts. The rock icon’s intervention highlighted a critical clash between traditional copyright enforcement and the modern desire of fans to share and celebrate live music experiences, leading May to apologize to fans as their memories vanished overnight.
The issue arose when vast numbers of videos captured by fans during the Queen + Adam Lambert tour—spanning performances across Europe, North America, and beyond—were automatically removed by the platforms’ algorithms due to copyright infringement claims, reportedly issued by Universal and Sony Music. These videos represented priceless memories for the fans, but were being treated as illegal content by the automated systems, with users even receiving “strikes” that threatened the loss of their channels.
May took to his personal social media channels to issue a forceful rebuke of the platforms’ actions, calling them “draconian.” He directly apologized to the band’s global community, asserting that this crackdown was happening against the band’s express wishes.
“This is quite ridiculous,” May wrote. “The videos are fan memories of shared moments, and we, as a band, want them to be shared, not deleted. We DO NOT want our fans to be treated like criminals. We cherish your memories and appreciate your dedication.”
A Stand Against Automated Policing
May’s stance was a significant public challenge to the restrictive policies often imposed by social media companies, which typically rely on automated content identification systems to police copyrighted material. The move clarified that while the band’s management often holds the right to block this content, the automated takedowns were occurring against the band’s desires. The copyright claims primarily targeted fan videos featuring iconic songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Will Rock You” from their successful Rhapsody Tour collaboration with frontman Adam Lambert.
“The decision to take these videos down certainly hasn’t come from us, the band,” the guitarist insisted, adding that he had asked their management to look into why Universal and Instagram had suddenly become so “Draconian.”
By prioritizing the emotional significance of his audience’s memories over the strict, automated enforcement of content control, Brian May used his powerful voice to call for a more balanced approach to copyright in the digital age, sending a clear message that the band values the loyalty and shared experience of their fans above automated compliance.