Navigating Music Licensing for Church Streams and Events

If there’s one thing that can make a Sunday morning feel alive, it’s music. Worship has a way of stirring hearts, bringing people together, and creating moments that stick with us long after the last chord fades. Whether it’s the power of a full band leading “How Great Is Our God” or the intimacy of an acoustic set during communion, music is woven into the DNA of the church experience.

But here’s the part that’s less poetic: every song you sing, every track you play, and every livestream you post comes with legal strings attached.

If you’ve ever had a livestream muted mid-service, gotten an email from YouTube about “copyrighted material,” or wondered whether that conference playlist is okay to use, you’ve bumped into the complex world of music licensing. And trust me — I’ve seen more churches than I can count get blindsided by it.

The good news? It doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming. Once you understand the basics, you can protect your church, honor the artists who create the music we love, and keep your worship going without interruption.

Why Music Licensing Matters for Churches

Some church leaders hear “music licensing” and immediately think: “Great, another expense.” But that’s the wrong way to look at it.

Think of it like insurance. You don’t buy car insurance because you want to get in an accident — you buy it because you want to be covered if something happens. Music licensing works the same way. It gives you the legal permission you need to use music confidently, whether that’s in a live service, on a livestream, or at a special event.

It also honors the fact that musicians, songwriters, and publishers put real time, energy, and resources into creating these songs. Licensing is the system that makes sure they’re fairly compensated for that work. Without it, many of the songs that have carried us through hard seasons wouldn’t even exist.

Without the right licenses, churches can face:

• Muted livestreams — nothing kills the moment like the worship leader singing passionately and… silence.
• Video takedowns — especially frustrating if you’ve been promoting a big online series.
• Unexpected legal fees — from publishers or rights holders.

And most of these issues pop up without warning, usually when you least have time to deal with them.

The Two Main Types of Music Licenses Churches Need

1. Performance Licenses

Performance licenses cover the right to perform music publicly — whether that’s your worship team singing live, your pianist playing during the offering, or a youth leader strumming guitar at a campfire service.

For in-person services, these rights are managed by Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) like:

• BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)
• ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers)
• SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers)

If you play or perform music in any public setting — and yes, that includes church — you need this coverage.

2. Reproduction (Mechanical) Licenses

Reproduction licenses cover the right to record, reproduce, and distribute music. This is the one most churches forget about until they start posting their services online.

If you’re:

• Recording your worship team
• Making CDs or MP3 downloads
• Posting videos to YouTube, Facebook, or your church app
• Distributing audio or video content outside of the live service

…then you need this license.

For churches, the most common providers are:

• CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) — covers thousands of worship songs for printing, projecting, recording, and streaming.
• CVLI (Christian Video Licensing International) — for showing movies or video clips during services or events.

The Streaming Gap Most Churches Miss

When COVID pushed churches online, many quickly learned the hard way that their existing licenses didn’t automatically cover livestreaming.

A standard CCLI license covers in-person use, but not the broadcast of that music over the internet. That’s why CCLI created the Streaming Plus License, which expands coverage for livestreams and archived video. Without it, Facebook and YouTube have every right to block, mute, or remove your worship set — even if you’re singing “Amazing Grace.”

Events Outside of Sunday Morning

Sunday services are just the tip of the iceberg. Many churches host weddings, funerals, conferences, youth events, outreach concerts, and seasonal programs — all of which involve music.

Here’s the tricky part: many church licenses only cover worship services. That means your Christmas concert or youth lock-in might require separate licensing. If you skip it, you’re rolling the dice legally — and it’s a gamble that can get expensive.

How to Make Music Licensing Simple for Your Church

1. Centralize Responsibility

Appoint a music licensing coordinator — even if it’s just a volunteer with an eye for details. This person should track all your licenses, renewal dates, and coverage limits.

2. Work with the Right Providers

Start with CCLI and CVLI for the basics. If you’re doing big-ticket events or broadcasting beyond worship services, contact BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC directly.

3. Educate Your Team

Your worship leader, media director, and event planners should all know what your licenses cover (and what they don’t). This helps avoid accidental violations.

4. Document Everything

Save every invoice, contract, and email confirming licensing permissions. If a dispute pops up, you’ll be glad you have a paper trail.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

We live in a time when your church’s reach can be global. A Sunday service in Texas can be watched live in Tanzania. A youth worship night in North Carolina can go viral on Instagram. That’s exciting — but it also means more eyes (and algorithms) are on your content than ever before.

Licensing isn’t just about following the law — it’s about protecting your ministry from unnecessary interruptions so the gospel can be shared without distraction.

Our Links

• Church Law Strategy subscription plans for churches and ministries
• Music licensing audits and legal compliance reviews for churches
• Livestream and media rights protection services for ministries

Other Resources to Check Out!

• Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI)
• Christian Video Licensing International (CVLI)
• BMI – Music Rights Licensing

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Church Law and Strategy or its representatives. For specific legal advice tailored to your church or organization, please consult a licensed attorney.