Q&A

Are worship songs copyrighted?

Are worship songs copyrighted?

While churches are typically permitted to play and perform copyrighted songs during worship services, the law generally only extends to live, in-person performances. Another license is often required to play, perform, or otherwise use any copyrighted material in a recording or broadcast.

Can I use YouTube videos for worship?

How can I use YouTube videos in online worship? Quick answer: You need permission from the copyright holder. There is no license which allows you to use other artists videos. Personal permission must be sought.

How do I legally copyright copyrighted music?

How to Stream Copyrighted Music on YouTube

  1. Go to Creator Studio > Create > Audio Library.
  2. Use the tabs at the top of the page to choose ‘Free music’ or ‘Sound effects’
  3. When you’ve found a track you like, click the arrow to download it.
  4. For easy access in the future, select the star to add the track to your Favorites.

Why are churches using copyrighted music on YouTube?

All the churches are using copyrighted music. They’re all performing it live. They all get the occasional notice from YouTube not to. They all reply to the notices, responding the YouTube’s automated system that the music is used with permission, because they have a live streaming license; they know they’re covered legally.

Is the performmusic license by CCS for churches?

The PERFORMmusic License by CCS provides churches and ministries with a license for the performance of live and pre-recorded music in their facilities, including satellite campuses. The license covers all 20 million songs from ASCAP, BMI and SESAC, including all genres of Christian and secular songs.

Is it legal to stream music from your church?

Allows for legally streaming / podcasting your live-recorded worship service music on your church’s website or other streaming services. All CCLI songs are covered under the “Church Streaming & Podcast License” however, you must purchase the CCLI Church Copyright License as well.This license does NOT cover the streaming of “secular” songs.

Can a church performance be an infringement of a copyright?

According to the exemption, the following performances are not infringements of copyright: “Performance of a non-dramatic music work or of a dramatico-music work of a religious nature, or display of a work, in the course of services at a place of worship or other religious assembly.”

All the churches are using copyrighted music. They’re all performing it live. They all get the occasional notice from YouTube not to. They all reply to the notices, responding the YouTube’s automated system that the music is used with permission, because they have a live streaming license; they know they’re covered legally.

Where did my church get their worship music from?

We used worship music and lyrics from YouTube. After the live event, the video of our worship service was automatically posted to our church’s Facebook page. Not long afterward, I received threatening, system-generated emails saying that my video contained music that might fall under copyright laws.

Can a YouTube video be used for worship?

If you do choose to use a YouTube video during worship, be sure that it is on an official YouTube channel and you have permission from the copyright owner. Music videos that show the song lyrics you can sing along to are increasingly common on YouTube.

Can a church broadcast a song without a license?

A church may not broadcast (on the internet or otherwise) the performance of copyrighted music without a license from the copyright owner. A church may not broadcast the lyrics to a copyrighted song without a license from the copyright owner. A church may not record the performance of copyrighted music without a license from the copyright owner.