Doing Music Right

July 24, 2018

As a company, CCS values feedback from our customers, social media followers, and anyone else who has questions about copyrights. We spend time reading through all of your comments and questions regarding licensing and churches, and there is one sentiment we hear repeatedly, and one we would like to focus on here. The “WHY” behind music performance licensing.

It’s the Right Thing to Do

Six simple words. Words rooted in gospel and scripture throughout time. Why do our customers think music licensing is important? Because it’s the right thing to do.

Just ask Kacie Melvin at First Orlando Baptist. She is a vocal director with a music degree and works with many songwriters. “We have to give credit where credit is due,” Kacie says. “People are gifted by the Lord and need to be compensated by law.”

First Baptist Orlando isn’t the only church that feels this way. We recently surveyed our existing client base and 57% responded that the reason for obtaining coverage was because it was the right thing to do, even more so than covering risk and liability (although this is obviously very important!).

Now, we also hear the other side of this debate, “God gifts musicians these songs from Heaven, therefore its wrong that a church should have to pay fees to use them.” While we value the opinion of all,  at CCS we believe, “the laborer is worthy of his wage (Timothy 5:18). We believe the higher vision and greater purpose for honoring copyrights is the calling the Church has to support songwriters and authors of creative works.

Worship leader and Christian artist Paul Baloche says, “All of my kids grew up understanding that music is not free. It’s important to acknowledge and support the musicians, writers, vocalists, engineers, and producers of the music that we love.”

Where Does the Money Go?

Throughout centuries prior to the Copyright Law, musicians and artists have traveled a bumpy road striving to find means to support their vocations. Few have flourished and many have garnered very little income for their work. There was a tremendous creative outpouring unleashed in certain European cities and countries during the Renaissance period (14th – 16th century) in a cultural economic environment that was void of Copyright Law but promoted by patrons, like the Church, the Pope a, d prominent families.

Today’s cultural economic environment is quite different, but one thing is clear, songwriters must have rea gular income in order to devote themselves wholehearted to their vocation…making music. Great art does not happen accidentally. There is a unique relationship and opportunity between today’s Christian community and songwriters. There is a direct pipeline or conduit of steady revenue that is flowing from the Church to songwriters because of music companies and innovative annual blanket licenses that have been developed by businesses with a heart for worship and music ministries.

It’s a tremendous opportunity to support songwriters, who in turn will bless your church with new worship songs that proclaim the Gospel, touching and transforming hearts. CCS pays fees directly to the three largest US Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) and they then pay their affiliated writers and publishers.

Why CCS?

Since 2001, CCS’s quest has focused on helping churches and ministries by educating them and creating simple and easy solutions for music licensing that honors the rights of songwriters. We want to make sure writers and publishers get paid revenue for the use of their songs. When church leaders “do music right,” they empower songwriters by supporting their ministries, which results in an even greater flow of new music for the church.

The next time you buy a church music license, like CCS’s PERFORMmusic Facilities License or WORSHIPcast Streaming License, or pay an invoice for music rights, take another look at the transaction you’re making, because it is making a direct impact on helping to support your favorite songwriters.  The Church plays a vital role in “doing music right.”

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, as well as representation, administration, and advocacy for copyright owners. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube,  and Instagram. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a substitute for legal counsel.

Categorized in: , , , , , ,