Playing Music at Church

Licence: Phonographic Performance Ltd Church Licence (PPL Church Licence)

If you play music from a sound recording during church activities, you require a PPL Church Licence. 

With the PPL 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).
• Discos and dances.
• Keep fit or dance classes.
• Karaoke sessions.
• Singing/dancing games on a games console.

As music is being played from a sound recording then you also need a PRS for Music Church Licence.

You can read more about PPL and the change in copyright law here.

Exclusions:

• PPL choose not to license music played during acts of divine worship. This includes CDs/DVDs and live performances.  

 Licence: PRS for Music Church Licence  

If you perform live music or play music from a sound recording on your premises, you require a PRS for Music Church Licence.

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.*

*If music is being played from a sound recording then you also require a PPL Church Licence.

Exclusions:

• PRS for Music choose 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.

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. 

Music within films

If you're showing films in your church for entertainment you are likely to need a PPL Church Licence and 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 of Agreement