CCLI Report and Song Credits

If you are singing copyright songs in your church or fellowship, and if your church or school is registered with Christian Copyright Licensing International, then kindly report it in your CCLI Report whenever you use these songs. This has two advantages for songwriters: (1) it increases their profile on CCLI; (2) it brings them a modest return.

When you look at your CCLI return, you’ll see a button that says “Report Song” and, to the right, a little “+” sign to submit more than one report. You need to click that “+” sign because, normally, you need to report several categories of use. These are the main categories when you use copyright words or music: (1) Digital copies (2) Print copies (3) Video or audio streaming (4) Translation.

(1) Digital is where you record how many digital copies of the song you have shown. Think carefully, for there could be more than one. You may have one on an overhead screen. There be another on the iPad or tablet of the minister or worship leader or someone else leading the service. And there may be another on your church website, if the song appears on your church notice sheet on the website. Record as many as there are.

(2) Print is where you record how many print copies you have. Now NB this means different kinds of print copies. If you print ten Piano-Vocal copies for your singers, then that is only one copy. But if you print a Piano-Vocal score, and an SATB score, and a Words copy (without music), and a Guitar Chord Chart, then that makes four copies. If you print them all, it still makes four copies, even if you don’t use them all. It makes four copies every time you sing the song, even if you printed them a year ago. And it still makes four copies, even when everyone in the band or choir knows the music so well they don’t need it and it stays in the drawer.

(3) Stream is when your service or other event is available to view on the internet. You should report one credit for each stream.

(4) Translate is if you have made a translation of a copyright song. You should submit a credit for translation, as well as the above credits for the original-language song.

Then, after you’ve figured how many instances you are reporting (maybe 4 or 5), submit that number.

Now, regarding point (2) above, you’ll find that some of my songs come in multiple formats (SATB, Piano-Vocal, Guitar Chart, Words, Lead Sheet). So you should submit credits for as many as you use, whether printed out, or on a tablet or iPad, each time you sing the song. As I said, it helps raise the CCLI profile of the song, and brings in a few sous for the songwriter.

Again, if you’re reporting a multi-part work, then you need to report each musical section (each “song”) individually. So, if it’s a Communion setting, then “Gloria”, “Sanctus”, “Agnus Dei”, etc., all go down separately. If it’s a cantata, each song goes down separately. It sounds like a drudge, but once you get into the hang of it, it takes less than ten seconds per song. And, just think, you’re not paying another cent for the copyright. So it’s not a bad deal.

And finally, if there’s a song of mine you really like, and you’d like other folk to hear, please send CCLI an email to support@ccli.com saying, “Dear CCLI, I really like David Mitchell’s song, [Heavenly Lord]. Would you please feature the music on SongSelect so we can sing it in [name of your church/school etc.]? Yours truly, [Your name]”