How to Legally Stream Services When Using Tracks

You most likely already know that you need a CCLI license to sing songs at church and display lyrics. But what about if you’re using multitracks in your services and streaming them online? With more and more churches streaming their services online, it’s important to make sure you have the proper licenses in place. Nate Scott with CCLI joined Matt McCoy of Loop Community to discuss how to legally stream online services with tracks.

1. Streaming Plus License

CCLI offers two streaming licenses. The basic Streaming License and the Streaming Plus License.

Nate: “We’ve had a streaming license for over 10 years, but once COVID hit and churches realized they couldn’t meet in person, they needed a way to stream their services online. The basic Streaming License allows for your band’s live performance to be streamed to online platforms. But it doesn’t cover if multitracks or master recordings are included. That’s why we released the Streaming Plus License. With this license those types of recordings can be included in online streams as well. If you’re including any content you’re sourcing from Loop Community you need the Streaming Plus License.”

2. Where should you post your services?

A great place to stream your online services with tracks is your church’s website. But if you want to stream to YouTube or Facebook, it’s important to know that there may be limitations.

Nate: “When we post videos, whether they’re live or on-demand, social media platforms have algorithms that will identify underlying master recordings in a video. They ensure that the true owner of those underlying works are compensated. Some publishers and artists have not approved of their works being placed on YouTube, so they have the right to block your video or muting the audio because they control the rights to distribution of their works. The Streaming Plus License does generally authorize you to use that, but you need to make sure that you are not monetizing your videos or block monetization by the label or the publisher if requested.”

YouTube is easily accessible, but it’s important to consider that if you’re using Master Recordings, like Master Tracks from LoopCommunity.com, it can be blocked or muted. One great option is to use Premium Tracks, Community Tracks or Enhancement Tracks from Loop Community! These are not master recordings and will not be blocked if you have the Streaming Plus License.

Watch the full interview below to learn more about making sure you have the proper licenses in place at your church. Check out the CCLI Streaming Plus License here!