Music Licensing Basics for Churches
What Churches Need to Know About Music Licensing
Music plays a vital role in many church functions, from worship services and livestreams to social media and marketing content. Whether the source is a live band, pre-recorded music, or videos with a soundtrack, music can help set the desired tone or atmosphere. However, many churches unknowingly violate copyright laws when using music, creating potential exposure to legal and financial risks.
This guide aims to explain how music licensing works, highlight common misconceptions churches have, and offer practical steps to ensure your church is using music legally.
Common Misconceptions About Music Usage in Churches
Churches often assume that because they are nonprofits or use music in a worship setting, they don't need to worry about licensing. However, this is far from the truth. Here are three common misconceptions that churches should be aware of:
While churches are nonprofits, this status does not exempt them from copyright laws. For example, performance rights apply to any public performance of copyrighted music, regardless of whether the context is for-profit or non-profit.
Many churches believe that purchasing a song or an album gives them the right to play it during services or use it for media production. However, buying music only grants you the right to listen to it personally, not play it publicly or combine it with video.
Churches often think that small, private events like youth group meetings or Bible studies are exempt from licensing requirements. In reality, any performance or synchronization of copyrighted music—regardless of the audience size—requires proper licensing.
Statistics on Unlicensed Music Use in Churches
Recent studies show that a large percentage of churches are unaware of the legal requirements for music use:
-
A 2021 survey found that 68% of churches had played copyrighted music without securing proper licenses, particularly during livestreams and digital events.
-
According to Church Copyright Solutions, churches that regularly stream services online are at a higher risk for copyright infringement, with 30% of churches admitting they did not fully understand the licensing requirements for online streaming.
-
80% of the time, churches that are flagged for copyright violations are unaware they've broken the law.
Types of Music Usage That Require Licensing
Churches engage with music in a variety of ways, and each use case may require a specific license. Below are the primary types of music use are governed by copyright laws:
Under US copyright law, performances during in-person worship services are generally exempt from needing a public performance license. However, performances taking place outside of regular worship, such as during livestreams, still require proper licensing.
Playing pre-recorded music outside of worship services, such as during weddings or fundraisers, also requires a license. It doesn't matter whether the music is played on its own or accompanied by a video projection; a license is still required.
If your church streams services online or broadcasts them to radio or television, you need additional licenses such as a license for combining music with video and a license for public performance.
If your church distributes sheet music, creates lyric slides, or provides digital downloads for members, these actions require reproduction licenses. Simply copying or redistributing music without a license violates copyright laws.
Lastly, if your church creates marketing content or other media that contains copyrighted music, you need a sync license to publish it to your website, social media, or any other digital platform.
Legal Risks and Consequences of Unlicensed Music Use
Many churches unknowingly put themselves at risk by using music without proper licenses. Here are some of the potential consequences:
Copyright infringement can result in hefty fines, with some churches facing tens of thousands of dollars in penalties. One example comes from a California church that was sued for $50,000 after playing copyrighted music during a livestreamed service without the proper licenses. Another case involved a church in the Midwest that was fined $25,000 for using music in a promotional video without securing a sync license.
Beyond the financial risks, illegal music use can damage a church's reputation. The church community may see this activity as unethical, particularly since using music without paying proper royalties denies income to the artists who created it.
Churches are often in the position of supporting musicians and other creatives. Paying for music licenses ensures that musicians and producers are compensated fairly for their work and helps strengthen the bond between church and creative communities.
How Churches Can Ensure They Are Using Music Legally
Fortunately, you can ensure that your church is legally covered by obtaining the correct licenses. There are several types of licenses churches need to be aware of, including:
These cover live and recorded music played in public settings. For most popular music, performance licenses can be obtained from performing rights organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.
These are required for combining music with video, whether it's played during a service or posted online. Sync licenses can usually be obtained from the music publisher or record label for a piece of music.
These are needed for copying sheet music or distributing recordings. Like sync licenses, these can usually be obtained from the music publisher or record label.
Royalty-Free Music as a Safe Alternative
One alternative to purchasing the above licenses separately is to use a royalty-free music catalog. Royalty-free music can be used in a variety of ways without paying ongoing royalties to artists or rights holders whenever the content is played. Services that offer royalty-free music represent a simple and affordable alternative to traditional music licensing.
Another advantage to royalty-free music is that it's safe to use in new and emerging mediums, such as livestreaming and social media. Licensing popular music for these purposes can be prohibitively complicated and expensive. With royalty-free music, you can easily eliminate legal risk without sacrificing the quality of your productions.
Best Practices for Churches Avoiding Illegal Music Use
To protect your church from risk and ensure fair compensation for musicians and producers, here are some best practices:
Ensure your church has a process in place to verify that every song used in worship services or media productions is covered by the proper licenses.
Designate a staff member or volunteer to be in charge of managing all music licenses. This person should regularly review and update the licenses to make sure they are current.
Music usage changes over time. Your church may start livestreaming, hosting larger events, or using new types of music. Regularly reviewing your licenses ensures that new uses are legally covered.
Church leaders, volunteers, and musicians should understand the importance of legal music usage. Holding a brief workshop or meeting to explain licensing requirements can go a long way in preventing violations.
Conclusion
Music is an essential part of many church functions, but using it without proper licenses can create unnecessary legal and financial risk. By understanding the requirements around how music can be used in a church setting and obtaining the proper licenses, your church can continue using music to enrich your ministry while also supporting musicians and producers.
If you're looking for a simple and affordable alternative to purchasing separate performance, sync, and reproduction licenses to cover the many ways your church uses music, you may want to consider a royalty-free music solution like WavMaker. Our service empowers creative teams with unlimited access to a wide selection of high-quality music for videos, podcasts, social media, marketing, and live events with zero legal or financial liability.