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Dear WFM Customer Service Friends,We are writing today with sincere gratitude for the many musicians — including singers and instrumentalists — music directors, churches, music committees, Reading Rooms, event coordinators, and individual customers who have contacted WFM Support over the last few years. You are receiving this email because you have written to WFM Support sometime since 2023. Many customers in this group have asked thoughtful questions about music use in Zoom services, hybrid church services, online programs, livestreams, lectures, special events, and other settings where WFM music may be shared beyond the room. Because so many of these questions have been similar — and because some of you asked us about this as far back as 2023 — we wanted to follow up clearly and simply. For many Christian Science churches and societies, these questions became especially important as The Mother Church began providing updated guidance around online and hybrid services, including music use in Zoom services and other broadcast settings. While each church or organization is responsible for understanding and following the guidance that applies to its own services and activities, WFM created the WFM Broadcast License to provide a clear and practical way to address the Watchfire Music portion of those permissions. |
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The WFM Broadcast License is now available. This license was created to help churches and organizations use WFM music responsibly in online and hybrid settings, while also supporting the composers, lyricists, arrangers, performers, and producers whose work makes this music possible. |
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The WFM Broadcast License applies when WFM music is used in online or hybrid settings such as: Sunday or Wednesday services shared over Zoom or another online platform Hybrid church services Lectures or special events Online programs or meetings Services or events where WFM recordings are played Services or events where WFM Digital Sheet Music is performed and shared online
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Not everyone receiving this email will need a WFM Broadcast License. But if your church, society, Reading Room, lecture committee, or organization uses WFM music in any online or hybrid setting — or if you know someone who does — this information may be helpful. If your church or organization is already a WFM Broadcast License subscriber, thank you. Please feel free to pass this information along to another church, society, Reading Room, lecture committee, event coordinator, or organization that may find it helpful. |
We designed the entry-level license to be simple and affordable rather than creating separate one-time, event-only, or occasional-use licenses. The Starter plan begins at $249 per year and covers up to 4 WFM music uses per week, with room to grow, for online audiences up to 1,000 viewer-sessions per year. This means the same entry-level license can serve a very small church that uses WFM music only occasionally, a church that uses one solo or prelude in a hybrid service, or a group that holds a special lecture or event where WFM music is shared online. The license also includes a simple service/use log so that WFM music usage can be reported clearly and consistently. We know these questions can feel complicated, especially for small churches and volunteer teams. Our purpose is not to make this burdensome, but to provide a clear and practical way forward. Our goal is to make this workable and fair — especially for small churches — while also helping churches and organizations stay in good order with music permissions. |
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You can view the plans here: |
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If you are unsure whether your church or organization needs a license, or which plan fits best, please feel free to write back to WFM Support. We are glad to help. With appreciation for all the ways you use and support inspirational music, WFM Support
Watchfire Music |
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