Yes, you need a music license to live stream Catholic Mass

Mar 1, 2020 by

Matthew Kurtz

Live streaming & music
copyright Q&A

The combination of live streaming and music copyright laws can be confusing. But getting informed can give you the peace of mind you need to start sharing your liturgical celebrations beyond your church doors. With the growing popularity of live streaming, you can more easily use live video to evangelize those sick at home, in assisted living, traveling, or even those seeking a new spiritual family. 

To help you get tuned up on the topic, we got in touch with Brenna C. Cronin, General Manager at ONE LICENSE (OneLicense.net) to talk about live streaming Catholic Mass and other liturgical services that use music. 

Brenna C. Cronin | General Manager, ONE LICENSE: A Podcast / Streaming License is required to stream Mass without violating music copyrights. At ONE LICENSE, our Podcast/Streaming License works in conjunction with the Annual Reprint License, allowing you to provide reprinted music for your congregation and then posting the live stream or video to social media, your church website, etc.

Cronin: Our pricing is based on average weekly attendance, so it’s fair and equitable for each organization - no matter the size. We have options for congregations below 25 people to options for those who serve more than 20,000 weekly.

LEARN MORE - See a breakdown of Reprint License costs at OneLicense.net.

As a general rule, the additional Podcast/Streaming License allows for your videos to have up to three times as many views as the highest number of your category, on an average weekly basis. For example, a Category E License serves 401-700 people on an average weekly attendance basis. This means your videos can reach up to 2,100 people on an average weekly basis without being in violation of your license agreement. If a video goes viral, that’s a different story! The cost to upgrade a Category E License with Podcast/Streaming rights is currently an additional $140 per year.

Cronin: The first step is to look at the copyright information listed in the hymnal, typically found at the bottom of the song. If the copyright holder is a ONE LICENSE Member Publisher, the title is covered.  

You can also search our website by title, tune, composer, psalm number, etc. You can view a list of our participating Member Publishers, which include GIA, OCP, WLP, Hope Publishing, Augsburg Fortress, Oxford University Press, and over 100 other publishing houses and independent copyright holders.

Cronin: Organizations have two options for listing this information in their videos on Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook, or the countless other hosting locations: 

1. List the titles with their respective copyright information and your licensing verbiage directly in the video (like a slide or text on the screen).
2. List the titles with their respective copyright information and your licensing verbiage in the description text field of every video.

The podcast/stream must also include a message at the end of the video, or on the website
where the link is provided that states: "Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-000000." 

eCatholic LIVE's ONE LICENSE integration allows your live players to clearly denote that your organization has obtained the proper music licensing for live streaming.

Cronin: When selecting an average weekly attendance category, an organization should keep in mind all of the events taking place that will be streamed. Keeping weddings, funerals, youth services, baptisms, evening prayers, and other special events in mind is key. Of course, if an organization is only streaming weekend services, then accounting for these special events isn’t necessary.

Cronin: According to the Church Music Publishers Association, US copyright law provides for the owner of a copyright to recover damages ranging from $500 to $100,000 per copyright infringed. If willful infringement for commercial advantage and private financial gain is proven, criminal fines of up to $250,000 and/or five years’ imprisonment may apply. We certainly don’t want that to happen, so be sure to team up with a music licensing expert for assistance!

Two takeaways: Music copyright for Catholic live streaming

As you explore the possibility of adding live streaming to your digital evangelization strategy, keep the following items in mind:

1. Team up with an expert. Navigating the intricacies of live streaming and music copyright by yourself can become very frustrating and confusing. Don't get discouraged. Instead, enlist the help of an expert. For music copyright, having a relationship with a licensing organization like ONE LICENSE will be a valuable resource. For live streaming, a platform like eCatholic LIVE can provide hassle-free streaming solutions with free customer support.
2. Do your research. It is each broadcaster’s responsibility to obtain the proper licensing for the content they stream. If a DMCA complaint (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) is filed against a broadcaster, eCatholic LIVE reserves the right to suspend the account until the issue is resolved.

Helpful resources from ONE LICENSE:

• An In-Depth Look at the Podcast/Streaming License
• Webinar Training: The Podcast/Streaming License

One more thing: Licensing lectionary readings

Before you begin live streaming, you may need to review your organization's permission to use the Lectionary for Mass in a live broadcast. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has posted information related to the use of the New American Bible (NAB) on the web and other digital media.

Contact the Associate Director of Permissions at the USCCB to request permission to include the Scripture readings in your live broadcasts. Gratis (free) permission may be granted, and the USCCB can clearly explain the conditions your organization must meet to comply with its policies.