Copyright

This something that can present genuine difficulties for parish music. Most people would agree that those who write and publish Christian music should be able to obtain revenue from their work, but the regulations concerning copyright are many and complex, and obtaining copyright permissions can be time consuming and expensive.

However, churches that use only commercially published hymn and worship song books to play from during every aspect of their worship and never reproduce or photocopy the words or music from these books may not need either licence below.

Christian Copyright Licensing International

Christian Copyright Licensing International offer the Church Copyright Licence and the Music Reproduction Licence to any church, school or Christian organisation seeking a solution to copyright permission. The Church Copyright Licence allows you to reproduce hymn and worship song words for an annual fee and the Music Reproduction Licence enables you to photocopy the music and words of thousands of hymns and worship songs from published books. The cost of the annual licence is based on the size of your regular congregation (or the aggregate attendance if more than one service is held). Further information can be obtained from CCL, PO Box 1339 , Eastbourne , BN21 4YF or telephone (01323) 417711 ext 1 or from their website at www.ccli.co.uk.

Calamus

The Calamus scheme affords access to a vast quantity of frequently requested music, particularly that in use in Catholic parishes. Calamus is the UK and Ireland agent for the copyright holders of thousands of songs, particularly the St Thomas More Group, Bernadette Farrell, Paul Inwood, Christopher Walker, OCP publications, New Dawn Music, GIA Publications, CJM Music,

Viewpoint Publications, World Library, the publishers of Marty Haugen, David Haas, Michael Joncas and many others. It is also the agent for the music of Taizé. They offer an annual licence, one time permission, and permission for permanent hymnals and songsheets. The cost of an annual licence for up to 100 people is £35.25 per year, for 101 - 250 people £55.81 per year and for 251 - 500 people is £76.37 per year (inclusive of VAT).

For a hymn administered by Calamus individual permanent copies are 4p + VAT and full music copies are 50p + VAT.

Calamus gives you an opportunity to use a large number of songs which are probably not in your hymnbooks.

For more information, write to Calamus, Oak House, 70 High Street , BRANDON , Suffolk , IP27 0AU , telephone them on (01842) 819830 or visit their website at www.decanimusic.co.uk.

For those who prefer to avoid the complications of getting a copyright lisence...

 Interestingly, if a parish's attendance is 300 per weekend, the annual fee for both Christian Copyright Licensing International licences is £270. Over a three year period this amounts to £810. Since most parishes hold more than one Mass, 200 hymn books would probably meet their needs. Word books for Liturgical Hymns Old and New, the most recent publication by Kevin Mayhew, cost £3.50 each, or £700 for 200 copies. (You would also need to buy melody and full harmony books for your musicians as needed). Over a three year period it would seem to be favourable to buy new hymn books (and this is a very comprehensive publication) and use only the material in them. At the end of three years it would possibly be cheaper to replace these hymn books with whatever the latest edition is at the time (and perhaps donate the old books to a school or less wealthy parish), than to renew a licence for three years! And this does not even take into account photocopying costs! And most parishes probably need to have a Calamus licence as well as the Christian Copyright Licencing International licences . . .

Are you Confused?

If, like most of us, you are confused by copyright legislation, then a helpful publication is 'UK Copyright Rules and Regulations - Help for the local church' by John Hudson and published by The Royal School of Church Music. This can be obtained for a small charge from the RSCM, Cleveland Lodge, Westhumble, Dorking , RH5 6BW , tel 01306 872800.