GENERAL AND RED TIE MUSIC COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Churches and other non-profit organizations are required to comply with federal copyright law, and can be charged large fines for not complying.

All Red Tie Music songs are registered with ASCAP and CCLI.

What does copyright mean?
1. the right to copy. 2. a body of exclusive rights granted by statute to authors for protection of their writings. It includes the exclusive right to make and publish copies of the copyrighted work, to make other versions of the work, and, with certain limitations, to make recordings of the work and to perform the work in public.

What is a publisher?
A publisher is the company or individual who administers or controls the copyright on a song. Red Tie Music is a publisher.

What is the difference between a publisher and a record company (also known as a “record label”)?
A publisher owns the copyright for a song, whereas a record company has to request permission from a publisher in order to make a recording of a song, unless the record company is also the owner of the song (publisher). A record company’s main function is to manufacture and produce musical recordings of songs through a variety of venues.

What is ASCAP?
ASCAP stands for The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and is a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) which monitors non-dramatic public performances of copyrighted works registered with ASCAP in order to collect and pay royalties to its members for the public performance of their works. Other major U.S. PROs are BMI and SESAC.

What is CCLI?
CCLI stands for Christian Copyright Licensing International. CCLI provides an annual license called the Church Copyright License to churches on behalf of CCLI’s affiliated publishers. Although there are certain restrictions, the license permits churches to print songs, create overhead transparencies or slides, and record worship services by audio or video means. For more information about CCLI, please visit them at www.CCLI.com or you can call them at 1-800-234-2446.

What is covered by my CCLI license?
If you are registered with CCLI, your CCLI license covers:

- Printing songs, hymns and lyrics in bulletins, liturgies, programs and songsheets for use in congregational singing.
- Creating your own customized songbooks or hymnals for use in congregational singing.
- Creating overhead transparencies, slides, computer graphics or any other format whereby song lyrics are visually projected for use in congregational singing.
- Arranging, printing and copying your own arrangements (vocal and instrumental) of songs used for congregational singing, where no published version is available.
- Recording of your worship services (audio or video) provided you only record live music. Accompaniment tracks cannot be reproduced. You may charge up to $4 each for audiocassette tapes and CDs ($5 in Canada), and $12 each for videotapes and DVDs ($15 in Canada).

For more information regarding copyright restrictions and CCLI’s church license, please refer to Christian Copyright Solutions at www.copyrightsolver.com, or CCLI at www.CCLI.com.

What is NOT covered by my CCLI license?
You still need permission, and will need to contact Red Tie Music, for:

- Making rehearsal or practice tracks
- Internet uses and activities, such as posting audio song files, webcasting and live streaming
- Printing custom arrangements for performance
- Rental or sale of copies
- Custom commercial recordings
- Distribution of copies created
- Photocopying or duplicating any choral sheet music (octavos), cantatas, musicals, handbell music, keyboard arrangements, vocal solos or instrumental works
- Translations of songs
- Printing custom arrangements where published versions ARE available
- Concerts and performances not qualifying for religious services exemption
- Components of multi-media presentations
- Reproduction of any copyrights other than songs (literary works, film, photographs, etc.)

For more information regarding copyright restrictions and CCLI’s church license, please refer to For more information regarding copyright restrictions and CCLI’s church license, please refer to Christian Copyright Solutions at www.copyrightsolver.com, or CCLI at www.CCLI.com.

How do I know which license I need?
Descriptions of several common licenses are listed further down the page, as well as on our licensing information page, along with our license request forms.

Do I need to ask Red Tie Music for permission to translate a Red Tie song into a different language?
Yes. All translations must be submitted to Red Tie Music in a document with the original English text, the translation, and the back translation of the song from the translation into literal English, along with the title, author, composer and translator. Red Tie will then approve or disapprove the translation. All approved translations become property of Red Tie Music.

KEY PUBLISHING TERMS

Catalog - 1. the collection of songs that a publisher controls or administers. 2. a songwriter’s repertoire of songs.

Custom Digital Phonorecord Delivery (DPD) 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. Licenses granted on a case-by-case basis, and on the condition that a custom mechanical license has already been obtained by the individual or group.

Master Use License - the form of permission that authorizes one to use pre-recorded material on a CD, cassette, video, etc. Will need to request permission from the record label and the publisher, aka, the copyright owner.

Mechanical License - the form of permission that authorizes one to make mechanical reproductions of a musical composition that are not accompanied by a motion picture or other audiovisual works. Examples of such mechanical reproductions are audio cassettes, record albums, compact discs, digital audio tape and mini discs.

Non-commercial License - licenses issued to companies or individuals for projects that are not commercially distributed by a major record label.

Performance 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.

Photocopy License - the form of permission that authorizes one to make photocopies of printed music (i.e. photocopies of single sheet music, songbooks, etc.).

Print License - the form of permission that authorizes one to print the lyrics and/or music of a song.

Statutory Rate - the prescribed per unit fee set forth by copyright law for mechanical licensing. The current mechanical statutory rate as of 01/01/06 is $.091 per song of 5 minutes or less/per copy or $.0175 per minute after 5 min (rounding up to the next minute)/per copy, whichever is greater.

Synchronization License – a license for use of a composition in a film, pre-recorded radio or television program, or radio or television commercial. If a specific recorded version of a composition is used, you must also get permission from the record company in the form of a “master use” license. The synchronization royalty is paid to songwriters and publishers for use of a song used as background music for a movie, TV show, or commercial.

To fill out a license request form, click here.