What the Christmas Carols License Offers

1. Seasonal Performance Rights

This license covers live performances of the licensed Christmas carols during your chosen holiday season. You may:

• Perform the songs at a school concert or holiday assembly
• Use the carols in a church, community, or neighborhood event
• Repeat performances at multiple dates during the licensed period

Example

A school choir performs the carols at an evening holiday concert, then repeats a shorter version for a daytime all-school assembly and a local senior center visit—each performance is covered under the same license.

2. Rehearsal Rights for Choirs, Classes & Ensembles

The Christmas Carols License also covers all the rehearsal time you need to get your singers and musicians ready:

• Regular rehearsals in music class or after-school choir
• Sectional rehearsals (sopranos, altos, tenors, basses, etc.)
• Run-throughs with live band or recorded accompaniment tracks

Example

Your music teacher meets once a week with choir students for six weeks leading up to the concert. Students practice at school and at home, all under this license.

3. Included Materials

Depending on the specific Christmas bundle you select at checkout, the license may include:

• Lead sheets or vocal/piano scores for each licensed carol
• Lyrics sheets for singers and audience sing-alongs
• Backing tracks or reference recordings (where available)
• Basic performance notes or suggested arrangements

Example

You download the bundle and receive PDFs of the lead sheets plus MP3 reference tracks. You print the music for your choir and use the tracks to help students learn their parts.

4. Printing & Photocopying for Performers

Within your licensed organization or group, you may:

• Print or photocopy music and lyrics for singers and musicians
• Prepare conductor scores and individual parts as needed
• Provide printed lyrics sheets for an audience sing-along

Example

The music director prints one copy of each chart for every choir member, plus a few extra copies for substitute musicians and volunteers.

5. Recording for Personal & Archival Use (Optional)

Unless otherwise restricted in your confirmation, the Christmas Carols License typically permits:

• Recording your live performance for personal or archival use
• Sharing a simple recording privately with participating families
• Posting a short highlight clip (non-monetized) to celebrate your event*

*Full-length public posting or monetization may require additional permissions. When in doubt, contact us with details of your plan.

Example

A parent records the concert on a phone. The school later shares an edited, non-monetized highlight reel privately with families through a password-protected portal.

6. Fundraising & Ticketed Events

Many schools and choirs use their holiday concerts as fundraisers. The Christmas Carols License is designed to support that, as long as:

• The event is centered around your organization (school, church, or community group)
• Tickets or donations primarily support your own program or a chosen local cause
• The carols are performed live and not sold as standalone digital downloads

Example

Your choir hosts a “Holiday Night of Music” with a suggested donation at the door. Proceeds support your music program and a local food pantry—fully allowed under this license.

7. What the Christmas Carols License Does Not Cover

To protect the songs and keep the license fair, the following are generally not included:

• Recording and selling the carols as a commercial album or download
• Uploading full-length, on-demand videos as general entertainment content
• Reselling or redistributing the sheet music or tracks to other organizations
• Use by outside groups beyond the named licensee (e.g., another school or choir)

If you are interested in a broader recording or distribution project (such as an album or professional video production), please contact us to discuss a custom license.

8. Ideal For…

• School choirs & bands
• Church praise teams & holiday choirs
• Community & civic groups
• Neighborhood caroling groups* (*with a central organizer)
• Any group wanting fresh, uplifting carols with clear permissions

If you want your holiday event to feel special, legally covered, and rooted in thoughtfully written original carols, this license keeps everything simple and clear.