Playing Music at Church

Licence: PRS for Music Church Licence  

Do you play background music or invite bands/choirs to perform in your church?

If so, you must first ensure that your church premises are licensed for music performance, since permission is required from the copyright owner whenever music is played in a public setting.  This includes both live performances and pre-recorded music.

As an agent to PRS for Music, CCLI can provide churches with a licence to use music in a wide variety of activities.

With the PRS for Music Church Licence you can play music in a variety of ways, such as:

• Background music for coffee mornings, parent and toddler groups, youth and outreach events, and activities such as fetes and bazaars.
• Music contained within films (see below)
• Concerts and recitals (limited to six concerts per year)
• Discos and dances
• Keep fit or dance classes
• Karaoke sessions
• Singing/dancing games on a games console

Church Halls:

If your hall is an integral part of the church building then the PRS for Music Church Licence will cover the entire building including the hall unless more than six concerts/recitals per year are held in the church premises.

If your hall is a separate building, whether or not it is within the curtilage of the church, then the hall can only be covered by CCLI if activities where music is played are run predominately by and for the church congregation. In all other cases PRS for Music will license the hall direct as a separate building.

Licence Fees:

Licence fees are based on your average aggregated attendance at your main service and you can view them here. 

Exclusions:

• PRS for Music chooses not to license music played during acts of divine worship. This includes CDs/DVDs and live performances.
• CCLI is not able to license all churches. Generally, those excluded are Cathedrals, Abbeys and large Minsters.
• Any church premises which PRS for Music deems to be a concert venue may also be excluded. As a guide, if more than 6 concerts are held per year, that church will be deemed a concert venue. Please contact us if you have any doubt.

Music within films

If you're showing films in your church for entertainment you may need a PRS for Music Church Licence to cover you for music included in the film. If you're not sure that you have the correct licences please contact us. 

Not sure which licences you need?

Check the Quick Guide Licence Table

Links to: Licence Fees / Apply Now / SongSelect / Create / FAQs / Terms & Conditions