The Benefits of Performance Licenses at Christmas

December 14, 2020

Churches won’t be hosting large events or extravagant programs this Christmas, but doing an inventory of what you will be doing and what licensing it requires is never a bad idea!

It’s good to note that Performance licensing is required for churches playing or performing copyrighted music in routine ministry activities, as well as special events.   

Except for the Religious Service Exemption, the legal requirements for the use of copyrighted materials by religious organizations are pretty much the same as any business.  Plus, the Religious Service Exemption does NOT apply to broadcasting or online streaming of your service.   

The easiest and most affordable solution is CCS’s PERFORMmusic Facilities License. With PERFORMmusic your church can play and perform more than 28 million songs anywhere in your facilities or satellite campuses, even traveling with your church to offsite events. The uses are many during Christmas:

  • Traditional Christmas programs 
  • Lighted walks through Bethlehem
  • Drive-in Christmas concerts 
  • Synchronized music 
  • Children’s performances 
  • Satellite campuses 
  • Pre and post-service music 
  • On-hold music 

This year many churches will be featuring productions or programs on their websites along with streaming worship services. To legally stream copyrighted music online, a digital streaming performance license is required.   

The CCS WORSHIPcast Streaming License allows you to stream your worship services, special events, and guest performances of these same 28 million songs, including secular Christmas music, on your website. This does NOT include pre-recorded music.   

This year churches have enough to worry about, but copyright compliance doesn’t need to be one of them. Download our newly updated fact sheet, Why Your Church Needs Performance Licensing.  This FREE download focuses on practical reasons your church or ministry may need church performance licenses, not just during Christmas but all year. 

About Christian Copyright Solutions: CCS’s quest is to help churches and Christian ministries “do music right.”  CCS is an expert on church music copyrights and our primary focus is providing licensing and clear educational resources to churches. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a substitute for legal counsel. 

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