Common Non-Commercial Licenses
Note: All rates subject to a minimum licensing fee. Rates are meant to be a “ballpark” estimate and may be changed at our discretion. All licenses are issued on the behalf of our publisher clients and rates may vary between publishers.
- Custom Digital Phonorecord Delivery (DPD) License
- Custom Mechanical License
- One Time Bulletin Print License
- Congregational Songbook Print License
- Photocopy License
- Slide Projection/Overhead Transparency/PowerPoint Lyric Display
- Non-commercial Videogram Synchronization License
- TV Synchronization License (Local Cable Broadcast & Nationwide Broadcast)
- Non-commercial Master Recording License
Use of a song by an individual or group, as a downloadable audio file delivered via the world wide web. Royalties are paid “up front” based on the current statutory rate times a determined number of copies. Custom DPD Licenses are issued at a 250 unit or $18.20 license minimum.
To record a song onto a CD, cassette, etc. Project is made and distributed at the expense of an individual or group. The statutory rate, as revised by the Library of Congress, is the rate that applies to mechanical licenes. The current statutory rate is $.091 per copy, per song for songs five minutes and under; songs over five minutes in length are $.0175 per minute rounding up to the next minute (e.g. a song that is 6'01 in length would be rounded to 7 minutes and multiplied by .0175). Custom Mechanical Licenses are issued at a 200 unit or $18.20 license minimum.
Song (words only) reprinted in a church bulletin or songsheet only once. Fees average between $15.00 - $35.00 per song.
Song reprinted in a permanent local congregational songbook. $.12 per copy, per song, for words only copies, $.20 per copy, per song, for words and music copies.
To photocopy a song from a publication (songbook, choral book, etc.) $1.25 per copy, per song, for up to 150 photocopies, $1.00 per copy, per song, for 151 - 249 photocopies, and $.75 per copy, per song, thereafter. Some publisher restrictions may apply.
To place the words only of a song on a permanent slide, overhead transparency or in a PowerPoint file (stored on computer) for the purposes of projection for congregational use. $20.00 for up to 500 viewers. If more than this number of viewers, contact for fee quote.
To use a song in a video. Song can be an actual “on-screen” performance by an artist or group, or an “off-screen” performance by studio musicians, to serve as background or source music. $.25 per copy, per song for DVD format, with a minimum license amount of $25.00 per license. If original artist recording is used, please contact the record label first for Master Use permission. See Master Use License and FAQ page, question #4.
To broadcast a song on local or regional television. License term varies from one (1) month to one (1) year. Contact for fee quote.
To use an original artist recording on a CD, video, etc. Contact for quote.
To use an original choral recording on a CD, video, rehearsal CD, etc., $.20 per song per copy or an $18.20 license minimum.
Common Commercial Licenses
- Commercial Mechanical License
- Commercial Print License
- Accompaniment Track License
- TV Synchronization License (Syndicated Broadcasts)
- Commercial Videogram Synchronization License
- Commercial Master Use License
- Motion Picture Synchronization License
- Commercial Digital Phonorecord Delivery (DPD) License
- Commercial Digital Online Print License
To record a song onto a CD, cassette, etc. Project is made, distributed and promoted at the expense of a major record label. Statutory rate X the number of uses of a song. Budget-line recording rates negotiated. Royalties paid quarterly.
Songs reprinted in a commercially distributed product (songbook, choral arrangement, orchestration, etc.). Ten percent (10%) to Twelve and one-half percent (12 1/2%) of the product's retail selling price, divided by the number of copyrighted songs. Royalties paid quarterly.
To record a song onto a CD or cassette for the purposes of singing the song “live.” Lyrics are placed on the CD sleeve or cassette J-Card. Usually product is commercially made and distributed. Both mechanical and print licenses are required. Statutory rate X the number of uses. Print is $.15 per copy, per song. Royalties paid quarterly.
To broadcast a song more than once at the national or global level (ABC, CBS, NBC, CBN, ESPN, etc.) One-time negotiable fee.
To use a song in a video. Song can be actual “on-screen” performance by an artist or group, or an “off-screen” performance by studio musicians, to serve as background or source music. $.15 per copy, per song for VHS format and $.25 per copy, per song for DVD format. If original artist recording is used, record label contacted for Master Use permission. Royalties paid quarterly.
To use an original artist recording on a commercially produced CD, cassette, video, etc. Royalties paid quarterly. Contact for fee quote.
To use a song in a feature film theatrical release as a theme, as background music or source music. Either an original artist recording is used (with Master Use permission secured) or one prepared by studio musicians. One-time negotiable fee. Contact for fee quote.
Use of a song by a record label or other corporate entity, as a downloadable audio file delivered via the world wide web. Royalties paid quarterly at the current statutory rate.
To use a song as a downloadable printed product delivered via the world wide web. Some of our publisher clients do not allow this type of license to be issued. For those that do, our fee begins at 25% pro-rata of the retail selling price of the download.
Other Licenses We Issue
- MIDI License
- Electrical Transcription License
- Live Stage Performance License
- Online Lyric Display License
- CD-ROM Synchronization License
- Internet Performance License
To use a song in a MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) product, usually a 3.5 diskette containing digital information which can be altered. $.25 per song, per disk copy.
To use a song in a tape intended for public broadcast (i.e., theme music for a radio program). $30.00 - $50.00 for a one year license term.
To use a song as part of a public live stage performance (a drama or a musical) where admission is charged. Please contact Music Services to receive a quote for this type of use.
To display the lyrics of a song on an internet web page $30.00 per song for a one (1) year license term. Certain publishers we represent do not allow this type of license to be issued.
To use a song together with visual images contained on a CD-ROM disk. $.25 per song, per disk copy. Master Use License required separately.
To play a song (or part of a song) on a web site for promotional purposes only (i.e., web site designed to promote the activities of a church, civic group, etc.). Rates begin at $50.00 per license for a three- to six-month initial license term. If song is intended for other purposes (i.e., internet radio), you must secure an ASCAP, BMI or SESAC license. Master Use License required separately. Certain publishers we represent do not allow this type of license to be issued.
Miscellaneous Licenses
- Performance License
- CCLI License (Church Copyright License)
License granted by performance rights organizations, ASCAP, BMI & SESAC, that allows radio & TV stations, concert halls and restaurants to perform works in their repertoire. Contact ASCAP, BMI & SESAC for more information.
License issued by CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing, International) to churches and religious organizations which allows them limited access to songs (i.e., bulletins, custom songbooks, overhead projection transparencies, customized songbooks where no published version is available, etc.) Contact CCLI for more information. Fees are based on the size of the church or religious organization.