Streaming a performance with copyrighted music

Streaming a show with music you do not own raises permission questions that are separate from the filming. Settle them with the right people before the day, and plan so the recording is safe even if a platform blocks or mutes the stream.

Why is music the sticking point?

A song usually has more than one owner. There may be rights in the composition, in the recorded version and, for a staged piece, in the performance or choreography. Each can need its own permission.

Malaysia’s Copyright Act 1987 is the law behind this. The collecting body MACP publishes FAQs on licensing. One point from them matters here: holding a music licence does not automatically prevent a takedown where other rights or platform rules are still unresolved.

What kinds of music are in your show?

Sort the programme first. Each type raises different questions.

Make a simple list of every piece, who performs it and where the music comes from. This list is also the best thing you can give your videographer.

Who does what?

1. The organiser decides whether to stream and takes responsibility for permissions. At a school, that is often the school and the teacher in charge.
2. The performers or their teacher say what music is used and whether any pieces are original.
3. The venue may have its own rules about recording and streaming performances.
4. Our team films and streams what you ask for, follows your decisions about which items to include, and keeps a recording.

Our filming and publication responsibilities checklist lists the questions to settle and write down. For wider topics, see our hub on permissions, privacy and responsible publication.

What can platforms still do?

Platforms run their own checks. A stream can be muted, flagged or taken down while a claim is reviewed, even when you believe you have permission. Rules differ between platforms and change over time, so check the platform’s current terms for live streams.

Tell families that a link will be shared and that a full recording will follow, so a blocked stream is a small disappointment and not a lost show.

How do you plan so the show is still kept?

• Keep a local recording. We can record the show on site, separate from the stream. See what happens if a livestream loses its connection.
• Choose private access. A link for families is different from a public broadcast. Read public or private livestream access.
• Prepare a plan B for uncleared items. Stream only cleared items, show a title card during others, or share a later edit with different music.
• Do a short test. A rehearsal shows what the stream looks and sounds like before real families watch. Our livestream planning checklist covers this.

What we confirm for your event

• A local recording of the show, in case the stream is stopped.
• Which items are left out of the stream, or have the sound muted.
• Whether a later edit replaces the music.
• How to handle audience members who film on their phones and post the show.
• Who holds the streaming account. See who owns the streaming account and event recording.

Our event livestreaming service is available on request and confirmed for each event. If your show is a concert or stage item, performing arts event videography describes how we cover it.

For a legal question about your show, ask the relevant rights body or a qualified adviser.