Here's what you need to know about requesting a license to use our music.
Not sure what type of license you need? Read our overview of the different options.
To expedite your licensing requests, make sure to provide complete information about your project. Providing complete information about your project and the copyrighted material you intend to use greatly speeds up the licensing process. If the information you submit is incomplete, the process of issuing licenses can take several weeks. Please note that copyright owners reserve the right to sometimes deny licensing requests for a variety of reasons. Be sure to start your licensing process well in advance of your deadline for manufacturing of your final project.
To obtain copy permission for songs owned or administered by Sovereign Grace Music, PDI Music, or People of Destiny International, please submit your request through our administrator, Integrity Music.
If your request type is not covered on our licensing overview, you can also email music@sovgracemin.org for more information.
To locate contact information for other publishers (i.e., song owners), see ccli.com, ascap.com, bmi.com, or sesac.com.
If you desire to use or make copies of a Sovereign Grace Music recording, you will need a master use license.
To request a master use license, please send your request to music@sovgracemin.org. Each time you submit a request for a master license, be sure to include the following information:
Below you’ll find all you need to know about using our music in church services, print, audio, or video. Without express permission from the publisher (i.e. song owner), you cannot make copies of music in any form (including piano scores, CDs, digital files, video, etc.). Please read through the information below to learn what type of license you need to request in order to use our music in your project.
A Church Copyright License from Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) gives a church permission to copy from over 150,000 songs for congregational use. This license allows a church to make overhead transparencies, song sheets and songbooks. It also allows a church to input lyrics into a computer, record worship services, and make arrangements of the music (where no published version exists). For more information, check their website. Churches who do not obtain a CCLI license must independently obtain permission for individual songs from the publisher.
For those who hold a current CCLI license, section 4.2 from CCLI’s Terms of Agreement shows how to display the visual credit for song lyrics. It states:
Church agrees that each reproduced version of a Song will contain the Song title, writer credit(s), and copyright notice in substantially the following form: “Hallelujah,” words and music by John Doe © 2000 Good Music Co. Used By Permission. CCLI License #____________
Church agrees that each reproduced version of a Song will contain the Song title, writer credit(s), and copyright notice in substantially the following form:
“Hallelujah,” words and music by John Doe © 2000 Good Music Co. Used By Permission. CCLI License #____________
Please note the CCLI license number included in the credit is that of the license holder, not the catalogue number given to the song.
For other uses of songs outside the scope of your CCLI license (examples below) you will need a specific license for each song you wish to use, whether on physical product or on internet content sites. The owner information is indicated in the copyright notice which should appear on the physical product itself.
A mechanical license gives you permission to use a song (lyrics and music). You must obtain a license from the publisher for each song used in your project. You may be required to pay a royalty.
If you want to use one of our actual recordings, you will also need to request a master use license in advance for each song track used, and you may be required to pay a fee for usage. For the majority of the music featured on this site, Sovereign Grace Music is the owner of the recording.
A synchronization license gives you permission to use a song (lyrics and music) on a video project. Just like a mechanical license, you must obtain one for each song in your project from the publisher. Also like a mechanical license, you may be required to pay a royalty.
Any use of music or lyrics in any medium, including internet content sites (e.g. streaming on websites, blogs, etc.), requires permission from the publisher. A website license gives you permission to reproduce a sound recording and/or lyrics on a website (non-downloadable).
A print license gives permission to duplicate a song or its lyrics on a physical, printed product. You will need to request permission for each song used. A website license is needed to print songs or lyrics on an internet content site. This is not covered by CCLI, and you must obtain permission for each song that you use.
An “outside” copyright is a song or other copyrighted material that appears in a Sovereign Grace Music project, but that we do not own. Sovereign Grace Music licenses the use of these songs for publication from their song owners when we create the product that you purchase. However, our license is non-transferable.
If a song is co-published by Word Music or Integrity Music, you will need to contact them for copyright permissions. Sovereign Grace Music makes no representation or warranty as to your proposed use of any such material.
Sovereign Grace Music cannot grant permission for songs or anything else that has third party content outside of our control. Please contact the appropriate parties for licensing requests.
Churches wishing to use lyrics in projection, song sheets or bulletins are encouraged to visit CCLI for information on the Church Copyright License.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as a public service for church musicians seeking information about copyright. Sovereign Grace Ministries makes no warranty, express or implied, nor assumes any responsibility in the use of this service or its contents for its accuracy, completeness, currency, its use for any general of particular purpose, nor that such items or use of such items would not violate or infringe rights of others.