Playing Music at Church

Licence: Performing Right Society (PRS) Church Licence  

An increasing number of churches are introducing different ways to use music in activities other than worship services. Some examples include:

• Background music for coffee mornings, small groups such as parents & toddlers, youth and other outreach events such as fetes, bazaars, etc.
• Music contained within films (see below)
• Concerts and recitals
• Discos and Dances
• Keep fit or dancing classes
• Karaoke sessions
• Singing/dancing games on a games console

Permission is required from the copyright owner whenever music is played in a public setting. This includes live performances and pre-recorded music.

As an agent to the Performing Right Society (PRS) CCLI can provide churches with a licence to use music in a wide variety of activities.

Church Halls:

If your hall is an integral part of the church building then the PRS 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 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. 

Apply Now:

Click here to purchase your licence. 

 Exclusions:

• PRS choose not to charge for music played from a sound recording or film, or performed live during acts of worship.
• CCLI is not able to license all churches. Generally, those excluded are Cathedrals, Abbeys and large Minsters.
• Any church premises which PRS 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 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 for a quick glance.

Links to: Licence Fees / Apply Now / SongSelect / Create / FAQs / Terms of Agreement