Keen on Music Publishing
What is CCLI?
CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing, Inc.) was founded in Portland, Oregon on October 1, 1988. Its purpose was and is to help churches comply with various aspects of Copyright Law. For example, when the lyrics to a song are projected onto a screen the same copyright laws apply as if we were using sheet music or the hymnals that were purchased. A "lyric reprint" license is required by Federal copyright law to compensate the songwriter(s) and publisher(s) for using their product.
Let us make sure the point is clear; when we sing songs in a worship service there is no "fee" or "charge" to do that. But when we retype and reprint the lyric, whether it's an overhead projection, power point computer projection or photocopied lyrics in the bulletin, it is expected that we will compensate the owners of the lyrics for that usage. If you desire, you can contact every publisher of every song you use. But! There is an easier way to do that. It involves Christian Copyright Licensing Incorporated (CCLI).
CCLI's website;
www.ccli.com makes contacting them very easy. They have obtained the permission of all significant Christian copyright owners to license their works to churches. So, in effect they do the work for you! When your church makes arrangements to purchase a license from CCLI, then you may use any song in the repertoire.
The license fees are based on the size of the congregation and the types of usage taking place. The transaction can be done on-line. If your church reprints or projects lyrics or records music make sure they have a CCLI license.
CCLI also offers a very resourceful worship tool called Song Select. Worship leaders can go on-line to "audition" songs they are interested in using. If they decide that they do want to use the song they can then transpose the lead sheet or sheet music into the key that suits them best and download the sheet.
If you write music that is used in church be sure to register your works with CCLI. It is not reasonable to expect them to come find you! If you or your publisher registers your music with CCLI (much in the same way as you should register your works with ASCAP), you will receive royalties when your songs are picked up in the CCLI survey. For many writers of popular church music, this is a major source of royalty income.
Please explore the CCLI website;
www.ccli.com for a much more exciting and comprehensive understanding of the organization and all that they have to offer you and the church.
Copyright 2007 Dan Keen. All Rights Reserved
