What is the difference between CCLI and CCS?

Many church leaders are confused about Christian Copyright Solutions (CCS) and Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) and what type of licensing each company provides.

Both companies serve the church by providing the latest in licensing solutions. However, each company offers licenses for a unique group of music rights that most churches need to legally cover many of their everyday activities.

The great news is that CCS and CCLI partner to provide blanket licenses that make legal use of copyrights simple, easy and affordable for churches and ministries. It's not an either-or situation, one license doesn't replace the other. Instead, the CCS and CCLI licenses work together to provide the broadest comprehensive licensing available. You don't have to worry about whether or not you're protected legally using copyrighted music.

Download and print our Pocket Guide to Copyright Licenses for Churches as a useful reference guide.

In summary:

CCS's licensing solutions primarily address the area of PERFORMANCE rights
CCLI's licensing solutions primarily address the area of REPRODUCTION or copying rights

PERFORMANCE: The CCS PERFORMmusic license authorizes churches and non-profit ministries to legally perform live or play pre-recorded versions of more than 25 million songs from ASCAP, BMI and SESAC anywhere outside of their religious services, including, but not limited to:

Playing music before and after services
Onsite cafes and bookstores
Conferences and retreats
Picnics and barbeques
Festivals and special music events
Graduation and award ceremonies
Vacation Bible School and youth groups
Dance and exercise classes
On-hold music
Concerts and sporting events

NOTE: The CCS PERFORMmusic license grants no REPRODUCTION rights

REPRODUCTION: CCLI's Church Copyright License® allows churches to copy more than 450,000 Christian songs for congregational singing in the following ways:

Copy songs from hymnals, websites, chorus books and similar types of publications
Print songs in bulletins, liturgies, programs, song sheets, songbooks compiled by the church, overhead transparencies and slides
Electronically store, retrieve and utilize song files in computers, presentation software and similar resources to enable the visual projection of songs
Record songs in live worship services, including meditations, preludes, postludes, interludes, fanfares and handbell, vocal and instrumental specials by either audio or audio-visual means
Make customized vocal and or instrumental arrangements of songs
Translate song lyrics into another language

NOTE: These are all Reproduction rights, as well as some limited derivative rights. However, the CCLI Copyright license grants no PERFORMANCE Rights.