Researching and Licensing Copyright for Live Streaming

person holding a laptop with web pages flyign out

If you read a poem, read an excerpt from a book, sing a hymn, have the choir perform, or play a CD in your worship space, for your worshiping congregation, you are exempt from the normal prohibitions in the copyright laws against public performances. But when you record or stream a service the rules change drastically.

Understand the Legal Obligations of Copyright Law

Copyright and Permission Information for Hymns & Other Music

  • Peruse this curated list of the Hymns (PDF) from the hymnals Singing the Living Tradition and Singing the Journey and the permissions needed (and available licenses) for each hymn.
  • The Association for UU Music Ministries has a crowd-sourced list of works that have temporary permissions granted by composers, etc. for live streaming during the COVID-19 social distancing protocol.

Music Licensing Options

  • One option is to purchase a WorshipCast license from Christian Copyright Solution. A yearly fee covers singing and performing in church, and there is an additional cost for live streaming. This covers most music publishers, including ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, although it doesn't cover everything. Be sure to check whether it covers the music you plan to use in your service.

Additional Resources from outside the UUA: