Church Service Music Copyright License Information

Disclaimer: Research for yourself the legal aspects of what’s posted here. This is for general church copyright license information and copyright law changes.

QUICK READ:

  • Performing music in regularly scheduled church worship services is exempt from copyright fees and licenses. Note: This does NOT include recordings or printing, only performance during regularly scheduled worship service.
  • Printing Lyrics in Service Bulletins – Get a CCLI.com account
  • BMI License – No need for worship services, regular service exempt.
  • Recording Music CD’s or Church Services – Churchca.com
  • Presbyterian Church USA Copyright Information Page

    • PERFORMING MUSIC IN CHURCH SERVICES

    Music performed in church services is exempt from copyright license and royalties. In other words, you can perform what you want during church services. This only applies to the regularly scheduled church service and does not apply to any special concerts, presentations or ticketed events.

    From PCUSA.org – For churches, the majority of questions involve copying music from hymnals or sheet music and taping services for shut-ins. The Religious Services Exemption contained in the U.S. copyright law exempts from copyright infringement performance of nondramatic literary or musical works or of dramatico-musical works of a religious nature, in the course of services at a place of worship or other religious assembly. This exemption does not extend to copying the music or to audio or video taping of the performance.

    PRINTING LYRICS OR PROJECTING LYRICS

    You need permission to print song lyrics in your bulletin or to project them on a screen. CCLI.com provides clearance for a large catalog of Christian praise music. They only provide clearance for printing lyrics in bulletings or screen projection of lyrics. They do NOT cover selling recorded copies of the church service. Current fees for congregations up to 250 attendance is under $300 per year. I use this service at my church. Their website is setup well with easy access to lyrics, audio samples and sheet music you can transpose to different keys and print online. They cover mainly contemporary worship music but also have lyrics to many traditional gospel and hymn type songs. I highly recommend CCLI for any music director performing contemporary Christian worship music in their service.

    CHURCH ONLINE PODCASTS AND CD RECORDINGS

    The Church Copyright Administration at http://www.churchca.com is a new partnership with BMI. They charge a monthly or yearly administration fee (starting at $100 per month) to administer rights for podcasts and CD recordings. They have a tiered membership plan depending on your podcast and recording activity. My understanding is the yearly fee only covers administration. From your online member panel you fill in the songs you want to record or podcast, then CCA will find out the copyright and license payment info for you and bill accordingly. This was launched in October 2006 and time will tell how successful this partnership with BMI is. Currently at BMI.com there is no classification for a church license. Their referral is to the CCA site listed above. My understanding is that CCA only covers recordings because according to copyright law there is no BMI fees needed for regular church services (regular scheduled worship services are excluded from copyright payments, ie: free to perform).

    COPYRIGHT FAIR USE ACT
    Portions of a work may be copied if used in the course of teaching or instruction. There is no set number of seconds or lines that is designated as a definitive “fair use”. It is a matter the courts would decide, not the US Copyright Office, as to whether a piece was used as a small part of a greater whole for the purpose of education. Visit the US Copyright Fair Use page. Practicial church application of this would be using a small audio sample, portion of lyrics or photo in the course of a larger educational presentation.
    RELATED COPYRIGHT ARTICLES and WEBSITES

  • BMI and CCA Partnership
  • Church Music Publishers Association
  • United States Copyright Office
  • Augsburg Fortress Copyrights and Permissions
  • Motion Picture Licensing Corporation

    • More Audition Tips

    aida-cast2.gifMore Audition Tips

    Also see:
    I Hate To Audition!

    Audition Tips for a Musical

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    Auditioning can be stressful,
    here are some helpful hints when heading out for the audition.

    Arrive at least 15 minutes early. You don’t
    want to have to rush into your audition.
    Give yourself time to find the space and warm up.

    Pack your bag with a book in case there is
    waiting and a bottle of water.
    Not every place has a water fountain.

    Be nice to everybody.
    You never know if the person you are speaking to is important.

    There may be several people waiting with you to audition.
    Remember that they are competing with you for the same job.
    Don’t let them intimidate you.

    Wear neat, comfortable clothing.
    We know you want to look nice,
    but make sure you can move around the room.
    And don’t wear a costume.
    Your outfit can suggest the character such as a high-collar
    blouse for a period piece, but don’t get all dressed up.

    Careful when using perfume or cologne. You don’t want to
    send anyone out of the room in a sneezing fit.

    Try to find some background information about
    the charcter you are auditioning for.
    If you are auditioning for a particular company,
    be familiar with their work.
    It can also help you decide which pieces to
    choose for your audition.

    Bring clean and clearly marked sheet music.
    If you are auditioning for a musical,
    be sure the music you give the piano player
    is cut down to 16 bars and is free of stray marks and coffee stains.

    Remember to smile. If you are nervous,
    take a deep breath and try to relax.
    Recognize that you are not going to get every job
    you audition for, but can learn from every experience.

    When you are called in for your audition,
    be confident and smile
    and unless it is vital, avoid asking too many questions
    as your audition probably has a tight time slot.

    Keep your monologue to about a minute. Most directors can tell
    in that time if they are interested. Have several pieces prepared
    and one longer piece in case they ask to see more.

    Definitely do not ask if you will be called back.
    The casting director will let you know, that you can be sure of.
    If you do get called back, wear the same outfit as during your audition.

    I Hate To Audition!

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    I thought this was a great capture of the audition experience. As an adult I haven’t had to audition too many times, usually I’m on the other side of the desk. But some of the auditions I’ve had were gut wrenching. I’ll have to post some day about my audition with Cirque Du Soleil. YIKES! Those French Canadians are very disarming.

    I’ve worked with the writer, Suzann McLamb, in AIDA and SEUSSICAL. Also seen her in Lil Abner and the local bard company Shakespeare Northwest. She’s very talented and in her own words, the ultimate “theatre junkie”.

    Which reminds me I need to post sometime about the rush of theatre performance. It is indeed intoxicating. See my previous post about AUDITION TIPS FOR A MUSICAL.
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    I Hate To Audition
    by Suzann McLamb

    I hate to audition and I’ll tell you why …

    My throat seizes up and I feel like I’ll die.

    My stomach performs a gymnastics routine.

    Performance is flight, my auditions turn green.

    The trembling begins in the sole of my foot

    And shakes its way out of my head at the roots.

    My vision gets wavy; my tunnel ears ring.

    I open my mouth expecting to sing.

    Instead of a lovely melody sound,

    Comes the gravelly howl of a dog in the pound.

    So, that didn’t go well. I’m crazy for staying!

    It’s monologue time; Should’ve spent more time praying!

    What was my first line and what is the next?

    They’re knitting their eyebrows and looking perperplexed.

    I speak but don’t hear words or know what I’m saying

    Is it Shakespearean English or rambled delaying?

    Help me! Help now! Help me get off the stage.

    I feel like a mouse in the rock python’s cage.

    My body’s constricting and I’m turning blue.

    How I got up here, I haven’t a clue,

    I’ll laugh when it comes ’round to cast party time

    And I’ve danced in the limelight and aced all my lines.

    But now I’m still here and they want a dry read.

    It’s murder! It’s hopeless! I’ll never succeed!

    The room spins again, I can’t see the fine text.

    Please, oh please won’t you just holler out, “Next!”

    A call back? You’re kidding! That’s such a surprise!

    Past evil auditions … shy thespians thrive.

    Men’s Rules – The Difference Between Men and Women

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    At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down

    Finally, the guys’ side of the story.

    We always hear “the rules”

    From the female side.

    Now here are the rules from the male side.
    These are our rules!
    Please note… these are all numbered “1”
    ON PURPOSE!
    1. Men are NOT mind readers.

    1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
    You’re a big girl. If it’s up, put it down.
    We need it up, you need it down.
    You don’t hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

    1. Sunday sports. It’s like the full moon
    or the changing of the tides.
    Let it be.

    1. Shopping is NOT a sport.
    And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

    1. Crying is blackmail.

    1. Ask for what you want.
    Let us be clear on this one:
    Subtle hints do not work!
    Strong hints do not work!
    Obvious hints do not work!
    Just say it!

    1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

    1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That’s what we do.
    Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

    1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a Problem.
    See a doctor.

    1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
    In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.

    1. If you won’t dress like the Victoria ‘s Secret girls, don’t Expect us to act like soap opera guys.

    1. If you think you’re fat, you probably are.
    Don’t ask us.

    1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of them makes you sad or angry, then we meant the other one

    1. You can either ask us to do something
    Or tell us how you want it done.
    Not both.
    If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

    1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

    1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

    1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
    Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

    1. If it itches, it will be scratched.
    We do that.

    1. If we ask what is wrong and you say “nothing,” We will act like nothing’s wrong.
    We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle, besides we know you will bring it up again later.

    1. If you ask a question you don’t want an answer to, Expect an answer you don’t want to hear.

    1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine…Really.

    1. Don’t ask us what we’re thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation,
    or golf.

    1. You hav e enough clothes.

    1. You have too many shoes.

    1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

    1. Thank you for reading this.
    Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;

    But did you know men really don’t mind that? It’s like camping.

    Ave Maria by JS Bach

    1760-08-wdheq-if-300.jpgI received a note saying someone was desperately trying to find history of the JS Bach “Ave Maria” and was not finding anything online.

    Bach never wrote the Ave Maria. Aha! It was Gounod that took a prelude by JS Bach, and then put a melody on top with lyrics to the Ave Maria.

    JS Bach was an unwitting partner in the collaboration. Charles Gounod was a French composer who lived from 1818-1883. Read the Wikipedia Page on Charles Gounod. So google “Gounod Ave Maria” and you’ll find it readily available from most sheet music suppliers.
    Here’s a bit of the music to refresh your memory:

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    Photo of composer Charles Gonoud

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    Musical settings of the Ave Maria

    The Ave Maria has been set to music numerous times. Among the most famous settings is the version by Charles Gounod (1859), adding melody and words to Johann Sebastian Bach’s first prelude from the Well-Tempered Clavier. Antonín Dvořák’s version was composed in 1877. Another setting of Ave Maria was written by Giuseppe Verdi for his 1887 opera Otello. Russian composer César Cui, who was raised Roman Catholic, set the text at least three times: as the “Ave Maria,” op. 34, for 1 or 2 women’s voices with piano or harmonium (1886), and as part of two of his operas: Le Flibustier (premiered 1894) and Mateo Falcone (1907).

    This text was also very often set by composers in the Renaissance, including Jacques Arcadelt, Josquin Desprez, Orlando di Lasso, and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Before the Council of Trent there were actually different versions of the text, so the earlier composers in the period sometimes set different versions than the ones shown above. Josquin, for example, himself set more than one version of the Ave Maria. Here is an example of a text set by Josquin which begins with the first six words above, but continues with a poem in rhymed couplets:

    Seussical the Musical – Last weekend to see the show

    hat-seussical.jpgThis is your last weekend to see META’s production of Seussical the Musical at McIntyre Hall (Mount Vernon, WA). Shows open to the public are Thurs, Fri, Sat 7pm shows and closing Sunday 2pm matinee (November 9-12, 2006).

    Many people have asked me if it’s a fun production. The answer is yes, it’s WAY fun. Our 20 piece orchestra is fantastic and it’s a blast to conduct it. So, be there or be square.

    Here’s a photo of my setup for the show. I also play keyboards. My favorite setup is using three keyboard arrays in a “U” shape. I usually have one main keyboard in front so I have easy access to scores, batons, etc. For this show I just use one keyboard on either side. To my right I use a B3 replica synthesizer by Korg, and to my left is a Yamaha keyboard triggering my laptop computer. I use Kontakt by Native Instruments and program a custom sound bank for special effects and pre-show music. I think it’s much better to time the sound effects live with the action, rather than relying on compact discs. It also allows me to overly multiple effects where needed in real time. In addition to my keyboards, we have FOUR more keyboardists. Keyboard heaven!
    keyboard-seussical.jpg

    keyboard-kontakt.jpg

    Lighting booth at McIntyre Hall preparing cues.

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    A photo during tech week while setting the stage for Seussical. The hat is flown.

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    seussical-scrim.jpg

    seussical-set.jpg

    View of Seussical stage from the sound room. For this production we use 18 wireless microphones and an extra mixing board for a total of 40 channels between vocalists and orchestra.

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    Backside of the Seuss tree and added reinforcements.

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    Looking at the sound booth.

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    RHPS – 7th Best Musical of All Time

    Rocky Horror Picture Show was voted the 7th best musical of all time by Channel 4 viewers. See 100 Best Musicals List.

    .
    7. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) The ultimate audience participation movie. Richard O’Brien’s cult musical tribute to Hollywood’s horror B-movies is rocket powered by Tim Curry’s performance as the crazed Dr Frank N Furter. Hosting a convention of alien deviants at his Ohio castle, the transvestite doctor unveils his latest creation, a love machine called Rocky Horror. Great rock’n’roll, great characters, great musical.