Church Licenses

The PERFORMmusic License from Christian Copyright Solutions enables your church to play or perform millions of worship and secular songs outside of your services, where the Religious Service Exemption doesn't apply.

Enjoy the freedom to play music in the background, pre-and post-service, at concerts, events, conferences, and during mid-week activities anywhere throughout your facilities and satellitre campuses.

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Three images included: The first shows children with raised hands. The second shows a fingertip tapping "play" on a smart device. The third shows a person holding an acoustic guitar.

Permission to put music at the heart of church life

Concerts and Recitals

Hold live music performances anywhere on church facilities where no admission fee is charged.

Background Music

Add ambience before and after services, in cafes and bookshops, during clubs, mid-week groups, and community activities.

Youth and Children

Stage youth concerts, or use live music to entertain or add atmosphere to children’s events.

Events

Play music during socials, retreats, indoor and outdoor events, graduations, fundraisers, conferences, and parties hosted by the church, or using church facilities.

Clubs and Classes

Cover exercise and dance groups, and mid-week clubs and classes held on church premises whether run by the church or third-parties.

Satellite Campuses and Offsite Events

Covers music played and performed anywhere on your facilities, satellite campuses, and during offsite events organized by your church.

See theTerms and Conditionsfor more details.

Honoring songwriters and artists

While the Religious Service Exemption in U.S. Copyright law allows churches to play and perform copyrighted music during religious services, it does NOT apply outside of services. Through a partnership with the leading Performing Rights Organisations (PROs), the CCS PERFORMmusic Facilities License provides the most comprehensive, one-stop music performance licensing solution for churches. With a combined catalog of 43 million songs across all genres, PERFORMmusic is the only license offering total legal freedom to use music in all areas of of your ministry.

PERFORMmusic License Q&A

Why does my Church need the PERFORMmusic License?

The Religious Service Exemption in US Copyright law only applies to music played of performed during services. In any other context, churches have the same requirements as any business, restaurant, or venue and you must have the proper licensing in place to use live and pre-recorded music onsite. This includes before and after services, in your childrens' and youth ministry, in cafes or bookstores, or at social and outreach events.

Doesn't our CCLI Church Copyright License® already cover us?

CCLI's Church Copyright License covers the right to copy music for congregational singing. It does not include the rights to play or perform music in church facilities. The PERFORMmusic License makes it simple and affordable to play or perform millions of Christian and secular songs in your facilities and satellite campuses. Together the CCLI Church License and the PERFORMmusic License offer full coverage for the most common church activities and music use.

Why are CCS licenses now available from CCLI?

What venues does the PERFORMmusic License cover?

What is CCS's relationship with SESAC, ASCAP, and BMI?

Do we have to report the songs that are played or performed under this license?

What happens to the fees we pay?

Are ticketed events covered?

The U.S. performance rights organizations (ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC) offer additional coverage for ticketed events to current PERFORMmusic licensees. These additional fees are calculated based on various factors, including the type of event, venue location and seating capacity, number of tickets distributed, and gross ticket sales. Even free ticketed events require reporting, with fees based on your facility’s seating capacity and entertainment expenses.

CCS's goal is to simplify the reporting process and eliminate the need to obtain licenses directly from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC individually. It’s essential to report your event as soon as it concludes and during the calendar quarter in which it takes place. You can download the ticketed event submission form by clicking here. Once completed, please email it directly to Christian Copyright Solutions. You will then receive a PERFORMmusic Event invoice within 3 days, which is payable upon receipt.

For budgeting purposes, CCS typically suggest a per-event fee budget of $91.00 or 10% of the gross ticket revenue, whichever is greater.