Different rules apply for different uses of music on a website, so if you want to use music on a website but not in your own videos, you should check the rules with MCPS, PRS and PPL.

CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) do NOT cover licencing for use of music on websites.

It may help to start by reading the FAQs from http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/about_us/press/Pages/PressFAQs.aspx

If you wish to use commercial music -eg. something written and recorded by professional musicians that you've bought on a CD- on a video of your own making on your website, you need to get three types of clearance before you can go ahead.

1) Permission to broadcast music online. You need to apply for a PRS Online Licence.

PRS stands for Performing Right Society

http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or telephone 0207 306 4248

2) Permission from the publisher that owns the rights of whoever wrote each individual track you wish to use. You need to complete a MCPS Information Supply Form for prior approval of online music use. (MCPS are also trialling some blanket licences, to save you having to get a licence for each individual track, which may be worth while if you intend to use lots of tracks.)

MCPS is the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society

http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or telephone 020 8378 7500

They will need to know the song title, artist, the nature of your website, context of music use, number of hits per month, and how long you want the licence to last. It also helps if you can provide the name of the composer, publishers, and the duration of music use. Or you can discuss the possibility of some sort of blanket licence.

3) Permission from the owner of the sound recording of each individual track you wish to use. You can ask PPL to identify who owns the sound recording and give you the contact details of that owner. You then have to apply to the owner of that particular sound recording for permission to use that track.

PPL stands for Phonographic Performance Limited

http://www.ppluk.com/

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or telephone 020 7534 1122 to ask PPL to identify who owns the sound recording and give you the contact details of that owner

or for general information, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or telephone 020 7534 1257

The current process is long-winded and involved. As an example of how this all works (or doesn't!), at the date of writing this article, we have been quoted £50+VAT for the PRS Online Licence for a year, and £400 for a year's use of one track (Johnny Cash "Ring of Fire") from the owners of the composer's rights (Shapiro, Bernstein & Co) via MCPS. But then use of Jonhhy Cash's "Ring of Fire" was refused altogether by the owner's of the sound recording (Sony BMG Music). We are unable to use another track we wanted, "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner, as MCPS were unable to get in contact with the publisher and could therefore not get permission to use it. We are therefore not currently going to include videos with music in them on the website!