What is a CCLI license and why your church needs one

Have you ever wondered why your music was muted during your live stream? Chances are, it was because you didn’t have the copyright to the music that was broadcast. How do you obtain permission to use that music online? Purchase a CCLI license!

What is a CCLI license?

CCLI stands for Christian Copyright Licensing International® (CCLI) and enables real-time access to more than 500,000 copyrighted worship songs and hymns. It provides a convenient and cost-effective alternative rather than seeking direct permission from copyright owners for each song you want to use. This allows you to use technology to create, distribute, or display songs, service sheets, and content. A CCLI Church Copyright License covers the following activities:

• Storing Lyrics

• Printing Songs

• Recording Services

• Making Custom Arrangements

• Projection or Display of Song Lyrics

• Translating Songs

There are optional add ons such as the rehearsal license which is additional coverage that enables you to duplicate and share audio recordings via email, external drives, or worship planning software such as Planning Center or ProPresenter.

Another add on is the streaming license. The streaming license is coverage designed to enable streaming or podcasting of recorded worship services. This is important if you plan on streaming any songs during your worship service without running the risk of Facebook or Youtube muting your audio.

The pricing varies for a CCLI license and is largely dependent on the size of your congregation. For example, a church with about 300 members, the base price would be $330. When you add the streaming license and rehearsal license, the total comes out to $616.

If your church has more than one worship location, it is best to call the company for more accurate pricing.

I know what some of you are thinking, “I’ve gotten away with it so far. Why do I need to purchase this?”. CCLI helps you to honor copyright law and ensures that the owners of these creative works are compensated properly. You have to report the songs that were displayed, recorded, or streamed so that the artists can receive royalties. Again, if you are streaming, you won’t get muted by Youtube or Facebook for copyright infringement. Simply display the song’s copyright information on one slide as well as adding the CCLI license information to your description in your streaming platform.

For more information on obtaining a CCLI license, visit us.ccli.com/copyright-license

About Andrea Gray

Wife, dog mom, lover of all things creative. Her passion for equipping media ministry volunteers and leaders has spanned over 20 years. She has served in churches large and small, traditional and contemporary. She serves as Director of Media alongside her husband Rev. Charvis Gray at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.