Music Licensing Guidelines for Hybrid Services in the US

Last updated April 19, 2023

This is the second part of the Copyright Guidelines for Branches Holding Hybrid Services, which should be read before continuing. Capitalized terms not defined below are defined in the Legal Guidelines.

Please review these Guidelines periodically for updates. The “last updated” date can be found at the top of the page.

1. Free Resources

TMC is currently providing the Songs and Recordings on Music for Branch Church Services (the “Service Music Page”) free of charge for use in Hybrid Services in the US and, subject to the  copyright and licensing considerations explained in these Guidelines, worldwide. These include Songs in the form of downloadable PDF sheet music and downloadable/streamable Recordings.

While we cannot guarantee the copyright status of the Songs and Recordings found on the Service Music Page, our research leads us to believe that these are free of third-party copyright concerns for use in Services in the US. This means that we believe these Songs and Recordings are either:

• owned by TMC

• owned by authors and composers from the Christian Science field who have graciously allowed TMC to share their copyrighted Songs for this purpose, or

• may be in the Public Domain

Please be sure to read the Terms on that page. These free resources may not include many of the Songs and Recordings that a Branch might want to use in a Service.

TMC cannot legally give permission to Branches to use third-party Songs or Recordings in Hybrid Services. Each Branch is encouraged to obtain appropriate licenses as described below.

2. Licensing Songs And Recordings For Hybrid Services in the US

To protect Owners’ copyrights and reduce risks to Branches, TMC suggests US Branches hold Hybrid Services on one of the Livestreaming platforms discussed below and obtain license(s) from one or more of the music licensing organizations outlined.

The US has a patchwork-quilt approach to music licensing, which means you may not be able to obtain single-source, blanket licensing that will cover all the copyrighted Songs you may wish to use or all the uses that you may wish to make of these Songs.

The best solution is to obtain one or more “blanket” licenses that cover large catalogs of works, to cover as many desired Songs as possible, and then either secure licenses directly from Owners of Songs not represented in these catalogs or omit unlicensed Songs from Hybrid Services. Note that many Recordings are not available through blanket licensing, and often need to be licensed directly from their Owners.

Using Songs and Recordings without appropriate licenses may infringe copyright.

Branches outside the US should refer to Section 6 of the Copyright Guidelines for Branches holding Hybrid Services in the US.

3. Owners Have These Rights in Songs and Recordings in the US

• Reproduction (e.g., recording Hybrid Services in which Songs and/or pre-existing Recordings are played)

• Making derivatives (e.g., creating new sound recordings of underlying Songs or from existing Recordings)

• Distribution (e.g., sharing copies of sheet music, words, or recordings of Songs by email, download, or otherwise)

• Public Performance 

• Public Display

Branches need to be alert to the fact that there are separate copyrights in Songs and Recordings. It is common for the Song Owner and the Recording Owner to be different people or entities. A license to use a Song may not include a license to use a Recording of that Song, and vice-versa.

There may be additional rights held by Owners or authors that Branches outside the US need to consider.

4. Licenses Needed to Hold Hybrid Services in the US

The performing rights organizations, private music licensing companies, and online platforms discussed below vary in the licenses they can grant or the activities they can accommodate. Therefore Branches need to determine which activities they want to engage in so that they can obtain appropriate licenses to cover their Hybrid Services. These activities may include, among others:

• Livestreaming performances of Songs or pre-existing Recordings

• Livestreaming the display of lyrics or sheet music

• Recording and Posting Hybrid Services including copyrighted works

• Reproducing lyrics or sheet music in print, on a website, or sending them through email

5. Performing Rights Organizations in the US

Unlike some countries, the US does not have a single entity that can license performing rights for all copyrighted Songs. Currently, the three primary performing rights organizations (“PROs”) in the US are ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. The limited blanket licenses from these PROs only cover the public performance of Songs. These licenses do not cover making recordings of Songs or synchronizing Songs and videos. Nor do these licenses cover the public performance of Recordings, which are separate copyrights from the underlying Songs. Each PRO represents a different catalog of Songs, and there is little overlap between them.

Note: There may be Songs that are not represented by any PRO in the US, since US law does not require US songwriters to affiliate with a PRO. A Branch would need to seek licenses directly from Owners of such Songs.

For Songs used in video formats, a Sync license may be required. Sync licenses must be obtained directly from the Owners of individual Songs or their authorized agent. Also, Recordings must be licensed by the Owner of each Recording. However, in certain cases, licenses for Sync and Recordings may be obtained from one of the private music licensing companies discussed below based on the arrangements they have with their participating Owners.

6. Private Music Licensing Companies in the US

In addition to the PROs, there are three private companies in the US that help churches obtain various types of blanket music licenses. As these companies represent the copyright Owners, when these Guidelines refer to obtaining licenses from Owners, such licenses may be obtained from the actual Owner or from one or more of these music licensing companies which represent the Owner for purposes of the relevant licenses. Please be sure to inquire of the companies as to the Owners and Songs they represent and the extent to which they can license the specific uses you wish to make.

• ONE LICENSE (https://www.onelicense.net/)

• Christian Copyright Licensing International (“CCLI”) (https://us.ccli.com/), and

• Christian Copyright Solutions (“CCS”) (https://christiancopyrightsolutions.com/).

ONE LICENSE and CCLI focus on sacred music, and all three companies offer a range of rights that Branches need for Hybrid Services. CCLI also licenses some Recordings of Songs in its catalog. However, none of these companies cover all Songs or Recordings, or all types of rights that may be desired.

NOTE: All three of these music licensing companies require the licensee to “validate” in advance that each Song or Recording is included in the company’s catalog and to periodically report usage. Usage reporting should include Songs and Recordings owned by TMC as well as by Owners.

Summary information about these music licensing companies is given below. Branches will need to determine which company(ies) best fit their needs. Be sure to check these companies’ websites for their guidelines and the Songs they cover.

ONE LICENSE

Reprint License covers all congregational Songs in its catalog. The Podcast/Streaming Bundle License covers many (but not all!) catalog Songs for streaming, video use, and posting words in Hybrid Services. This license also includes posting recorded Hybrid Services to Branch websites, YouTube, Facebook, Zoom, and other forms of internet-based communication. Copyright credit and license acknowledgement is required.

NOTE: The Podcast/Streaming Bundle License does not require any additional public performance licenses from the PROs (see below re: CCS), but this only applies to Songs in the ONE LICENSE catalog. Other Songs would require a Public Performance License, such as is available from CCS.

Christian Copyright Licensing International (“CCLI”)

Copyright License for reprints covers all Songs in its catalog. The Streaming License covers many (but not all!) covered Songs for streaming, video use and posting words in Hybrid Services. This license also includes posting recorded Hybrid Services to Branch websites, YouTube and similar services, including Zoom. Hybrid Services must be truly hybrid, with the Readers in the Branch’s physical location. This location restriction may not work for some Branches. Services conducted solely online are not covered. Copyright credit and license acknowledgement is required.

NOTE: The CCLI license requires an additional public performance license from CCS (see immediately below).

Christian Copyright Solutions (“CCS”)

The CCS Worshipcast public performance license covers the entire online catalogs of ASCAP, BMI and SESAC for streaming, but does not cover displaying words, and may not cover video Sync. Branches may need to obtain licenses from Owners for video Sync. Branches must stream from their own websites, and not from other platforms such as Zoom. This location restriction may not work for some Branches.

Please note that some Sync licensing is available through ONE LICENSE and CCLI, but any music outside these catalogs could require individual Sync licensing from Owners.

In addition to the three private music licensing companies described above, there are other sources of Songs and Recordings that offer licenses for their catalogs of works that Branches might wish to investigate (such as Hope Publishing and Watchfire). There are also sources of free Songs and Recordings that can be found online under “Creative Commons” licenses however there are no guarantees that such content does not infringe copyright.

7. How The Mother Church handles Song rights for its Hybrid Services

• To cover its use of third-party copyrighted words, Songs, and Recordings used in the Livestreaming, recording, and Posting of its Hybrid Services, TMC maintains licenses with ONE LICENSE, CCLI, and CCS. NOTE that TMC’s licenses do not cover Branches, who will need their own licenses to cover whatever uses they wish to make of third-party copyrighted Songs in their Hybrid Services.

• TMC verifies the rights of each Song in advance, and occasionally discovers a Song that is not covered by any of its licenses. As a result, it seeks a direct license from the Owner. If a license cannot be secured, the Song is generally not performed.

• TMC only Livestreams and Posts its Hybrid Services in audio format, rather than video. This avoids the need for Sync licenses, which can be time-consuming and costly to acquire. An audio-only approach also gives more privacy to church attendees.

• TMC Livestreams and Posts recordings of its Hybrid Services only on christianscience.com, rather than on third party platforms such as YouTube, Facebook or Zoom.

• TMC removes recordings of its Sunday Services after one week and recordings of its Wednesday Services after less than 48 hours. These recorded Services are not meant to be permanent publications. Limiting the duration of Posting also helps to protect the sanctity of the Services, as well as further protecting the privacy of attendees. Streaming, rather than offering downloadable recordings, and limiting how long recordings are Posted online, may also lower the amount of license fees charged by Owners.

8. Platform options in the US

US Branches have a range of options for online platforms through which to hold Hybrid Services. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. These Guidelines cannot provide complete details on how these platforms work in conjunction with various music rights licensing companies. Contact the licensing companies to learn what platforms they license and what uses they cover.

Branch website

Advantages: Some Branches have websites already, so there may be no start up cost. Licenses from the PROs and some private music licensing companies may require Hybrid Services to originate in the Branch’s edifice or on the Branch’s own website, rather than on an online platform such as Zoom, Facebook, or YouTube.

Disadvantages: A Branch may need to develop its website to enable Livestreaming. An active webmaster may be needed to manage content.

Potential licensing solutions:

• ONE LICENSE podcast/streaming bundle

• CCLI Streaming license

• CCS Worshipcast license

Zoom, and possibly other conferencing platforms

Branches can Livestream and record Hybrid Services using Zoom, or possibly other conferencing platforms.

Advantages: The cost to open a basic account is fairly low. It is easy to enable congregational participation or minimize participation by using a webinar-style presentation. Zoom allows for easy recording, controlled admission, and private archival playback.

Disadvantages: The CCS WorshipCast license doesn’t cover Zoom or other conferencing platforms. The CCLI license doesn’t cover Hybrid Services unless the Readers are at the Branch’s location.

Potential licensing solutions:

• ONE LICENSE podcast/streaming bundle

• CCLI Streaming license

Social Media

Note that it is difficult or impossible to remove content from Facebook once it has been posted. This can create problems if copyright or privacy claims arise. Because YouTube and Soundcloud allow users to remove content they have posted, Branches using Facebook should consider posting Hybrid Services to YouTube or SoundCloud only, and then posting links to them on their Facebook pages.

TMC recommends obtaining licenses from one or more of the music licensing companies discussed above, rather than solely relying on the fact that YouTube and Facebook have content licenses from the PROs. Why? Because licenses from the PROs do not cover video formats or the display of words or sheet music. Branches are responsible for obtaining these Sync and display licenses. Also, the PRO catalogs are limited.

In addition, a significant disadvantage of Social Media platforms is the so-called “copyright strike.” The platforms use algorithms to try to determine whether a copyrighted Song is being played in a posted video. If their algorithm thinks, correctly or not, that it has detected a copyrighted Song, it can block the video from being seen, or can even terminate the user’s account for multiple strikes. Many Social Media users have reported that dealing with copyright strikes can be challenging, even when they have licenses to use the Songs.

Another disadvantage with using Social Media platforms is that the platforms can display advertisements during the Hybrid Services, which Branches cannot prevent. Such advertisements can be disruptive or even offensive, but this is one of the costs of using a “free,” ad-supported platform.

Social Media - YouTube

Branches can Livestream and/or post recordings of Hybrid Services on YouTube.

Advantages: Branches may already have a presence on YouTube. There is no cost to open a YouTube account. YouTube’s Terms of Service allow Branches to withdraw posted content relatively easily.

Disadvantages: Branches can stream and post Hybrid Services to YouTube without necessarily needing music licenses, however this approach may lead to takedown requests from Owners, and may lead to the account being blocked or canceled for repeated infringements. Additionally, YouTube may display unwanted ads during Hybrid Services.

The CCS WorshipCast license does not permit Posting Songs recorded in Hybrid Services on platforms other than Branches’ websites, although Branches may post recordings on their websites and link to those recordings from their Social Media accounts.

Potential licensing solutions:

• ONE LICENSE podcast/streaming bundle

• CCLI Streaming license

Social Media - Facebook

Branches can Livestream and/or post recordings of Hybrid Services on Facebook.

Advantages: Branch may already have a presence on Facebook. No cost to open a Facebook account.

Disadvantages: You can stream and post Hybrid Services to Facebook without necessarily needing music licenses. However, this approach may lead to takedown requests from Owners and to the account being blocked for repeated infringements. Additionally, Facebook may display unwanted ads during Hybrid Services.

Also, as mentioned above, Facebook’s Terms of Service make taking down content very difficult, which could be a problem if copyright or privacy claims arise. Therefore, Livestreaming or posting recordings on Facebook is not recommended for Hybrid Services. One option would be to Livestream from the Branch’s own website, or on YouTube Live, and merely place a link to the video on the Branch’s Facebook page.

Potential licensing solutions:

• ONE LICENSE podcast/streaming bundle

• CCLI Streaming license

9. Editing Words

Branches should obtain permission from Owners to alter their words, due to copyright and moral rights laws. (“Moral rights” laws are more extensive outside the US.) TMC generally does not give permission to alter words it owns.

In order to preserve the integrity of Mary Baker Eddy’s writings, TMC asks that her words not be modified.

10. Copyright in Translated Hymn Words

TMC owns the copyright to translated words in the non-English language editions of the 1932 Hymnal, but may not own translated words from the 2017 Hymnal. Keep in mind that with translated words, there are potentially two Owners—one for the original words and one for the translation. You should get permission from both Owners to use the translation for Hybrid Services.

11. Performing, Displaying, Copying, and Posting Song Words

In general, Branches should seek licenses from Owners to perform, display, copy, or Post images of copyrighted Song words.

Under the “In-Person” church service exemption in US copyright law, licenses from Owners are not required for Branches to perform or display copyrighted Songs in the building where In-Person Services are taking place. However, this exemption does not cover the reproduction of Songs, so Branches should only perform from, display, or provide legitimately purchased Hymnals or licensed copies of Songs.

On the other hand, licenses are required to perform or display copyrighted Songs during Hybrid Services, as the exemption does not generally apply to such Services.

Licenses Needed. The technologies listed below for projecting, displaying, reproducing, or distributing copyrighted Song words involve reproduction and require licenses from Owners.

• video Livestreaming words

• Posting words or recorded images of words

• projecting words from transparencies

• projecting words from copied files on a computer during an In-Person service

• printing or photocopying words for sharing at In-Person services, or 

• emailing words

ONE LICENSE and CCLI offer licenses that permit these uses of Song words in their catalogs, which can save Branches time and money.

Exception. No license is required to display or project Song words in the building during In-Person Services, if done so from a legitimately licensed or purchased copy using a document reader projector. This is a specific type of device that projects an image of the original document and does not involve reproduction (like a transparency system does). However, Branches that are recording and Posting In-Person Services may wish to consider keeping projection screens out of the camera’s view in order to avoid the need for licensing.

Copying TMC-owned Words. Under special circumstances, Branches may make a small number of extra prints or photocopies of Song words owned by TMC, for display and for distribution at In-Person Services, provided author attribution and applicable copyright notices are preserved. If an attendee would benefit from larger print, copying and enlarging TMC-owned hymn words from Concord is a good solution.

Branches may Post English hymn words owned by TMC on their own websites in connection with announcing a Service, provided author and source attribution are included, and the words are taken down within a week after the Service. Please do not Post copyrighted hymn words or Recordings on Social Media.

12. Using Copyrighted Recordings

Before reproducing or performing copyrighted Recordings in your Hybrid Services, you should obtain permission from Owners of the Recordings, which may be distinct from Owners of Songs. Note that you need to include credits and copyright notices for Recordings as well as for Songs, as discussed below.

Purchased Commercial Recordings. Copyrighted Recordings (on CD, USB drive, mp3, iTunes, etc.), including Recordings published by TMC, are sometimes played during Hybrid Services, especially when there is no organist or soloist. Note that a Recording may be copyrighted even if the underlying Song Elements are not.

Many of the Recordings sold by TMC, as well as the Song Elements contained within them, are copyrighted by Owners. Please do not assume that Recordings purchased from a Reading Room or the CSPS Online Shop may be used in Hybrid Services without permission from Owners.

To perform (play) copyrighted Recordings in Hybrid Services, Branches should use legitimately purchased copies of the Recordings and obtain specific licenses to perform them. Licenses from CCLI permit performance of selected Recordings in its catalog. Neither ONE LICENSE nor CCS license the use of Recordings, only of Songs.

Using live musicians in Services avoids the need to get licenses to play Recordings, but not the need to get licenses to perform the Songs.

Branch-made Recordings. Some Branches may wish to have the musicians in their “worship team” produce Recordings of copyrighted Songs to perform in Services. Branches need to obtain licenses from Owners, including TMC, to record Songs that are not in the Public Domain.

ONE LICENSE covers the making of recordings for certain Songs in its catalog, if use of such self-made recordings is limited to playing them in Hybrid Services only.

TMC-owned Recordings. Branches may perform their purchased Recordings copyrighted by TMC in their Hybrid Services ONLY IF the underlying Song Elements are either:  (i) owned by TMC or (ii) in the Public Domain. For a list of hymn Elements owned by TMC, third party Owners, or that may be in the Public Domain, see the Hymn Owner Index.

If you are using such TMC-owned Recordings, please include a notice as follows: “Recording of [/Song Title] from [/Album Title] by [/Name of Artist], Ⓟ [/YEAR if available] [name of the sound recording copyright owner listed on the Recording]. Used by permission.”

As a reminder, Branches may use TMC-provided Recordings provided on the “Music for Branch Church Services” in Hybrid Services (see Section 1 above for more details). If you are using a Recording provided on the Service Music Page, please include a notice as follows: “Recording Ⓟ The Christian Science Publishing Society. Used by permission.”

13. Attribution and Copyright Notice Information for Hymn Elements

Music used in Hybrid Services should always be properly attributed to the writer and composer, and copyright notices showing the Owners of Elements (if applicable) should be displayed. No copyright notices are required for Public Domain Elements, although author and composer attributions are needed. 

Providing author attribution and copyright notices during a Hybrid service can be done in various ways depending on the context, for example, by announcing attributions from the Readers’ Platform or displaying attributions and copyright notices on a credit page during streaming of Hybrid Services.

Hymn Elements Owned by TMC

The Hymn Owner Index ("Index") will include specific attribution and copyright information, but the Index is currently under construction. More information will be added over time. Please check the Index every time before making use of hymn Elements. Until more specific credits are listed in the Index, the following general credit formats are sufficient for Elements owned by TMC. 

IF you are using a hymn from the 1932 Hymnal:
Christian Science Hymnal, No. [#]; Words: [Author Name], Music: [Composer Name], [Words Copyright Notice, if any], [Music Copyright Notice, if any]

IF you are using a hymn from the 2017 Hymnal:
Christian Science Hymnal: Hymns 430–603, No. [#]; Words: [Author Name], Music: [Composer Name], [Words Copyright Notice, if any], [Music Copyright Notice, if any]

Hymn Elements Owned by Third Parties

Attributions and copyright notices for third-party copyrighted hymn Elements should follow the format provided by Owners or by the applicable Music Rights Licensing Company. Where we have been provided attributions and copyright notices by Owners, we have endeavored to include them in the Index, but we cannot guarantee that such information is current or correct, so we recommend Branches confirm credits with the Owners or their representatives rather than relying on the Index. (Copyright notices may be found on p. 369 in the 2017 Hymnal, but note that corrections have been made in later printings. The most current credits may be found in the Index, which will be updated as new information becomes available. Note that the Index may refer you to the Owner for their required credit information.)

14. Songs other than Hymns

Solos. TMC owns the music to some Songs (including solos) and other non-hymn Elements published by the Office of the Publisher’s Agent, Mary Baker Eddy’s Writings, as well as the words to some Songs set to music by third-party composers. To the extent that TMC owns any Element of such solos or other non-hymn Songs, TMC allows Branches to use such Elements for their Hybrid Services.

Words owned by TMC may be copied for displays or handouts, provided proper credit and copyright notices are included, but the music should not be reproduced or displayed. The credit format for non-hymn Elements owned by TMC should be:

“Title, [Words: Author, Music: Composer]; [Words and/or Music, as applicable] Ⓒ Christian Science Board of Directors dba Mary Baker Eddy Collection. Used by permission.”

Permission to use any copyrighted non-hymn Elements not owned by TMC should be sought from the Owners. Be sure to use proper attribution and copyright notices per instructions from the Owners of such Elements.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions after reading these Music Licensing Guidelines, please email musicpermissions@csps.com.