One of the most common questions families ask when planning a funeral is whether they can choose their own music — and specifically, whether a non-standard track, a family favourite, or a personalised song will be permitted.
The answer is almost always yes. But the process for making it happen varies depending on where the service is being held. This guide covers the main venue types and what each requires.
Crematorium services offer the most flexibility when it comes to music. The venue has no religious requirements and families are free to choose any music they wish — pop songs, classical pieces, contemporary tracks, or a personalised memorial song.
How the audio system works. Most crematoriums use one of two professional audio management systems: Obitus or Wesley Media. These are proprietary platforms that hold large libraries of commercially available music. Your funeral director submits the track through the system in advance of the service.
If your track is in the system, your funeral director can request it directly. Most mainstream commercial music is available.
If your track is not in the system — which includes personalised memorial songs, family recordings, and some less mainstream tracks — you will need to provide an MP3 file. Your funeral director will upload this to the system on your behalf. This is a standard process that funeral directors handle regularly.
Important: Spotify links and YouTube URLs cannot be used by these systems. If you are providing a personalised memorial song or any non-standard track, you need the actual MP3 file. Make sure you receive this from whoever is creating the song with enough time before the service — at least 48 hours is standard, but earlier is better.
Licensing. You do not need to arrange any separate licence. UK crematoriums hold PPL/PRS licences that cover the public performance of recorded music at memorial services. This applies to commercially available music. For a personalised memorial song you have commissioned, no licence is required — you own the rights to your song.
Church funerals have more variation than crematorium services, and the rules depend on the denomination, the individual church, and the minister conducting the service.
Church of England. Church of England guidelines allow non-religious music at funerals. The Common Worship guidelines state that music should be "fitting for the occasion" but do not restrict it to hymns or sacred music. In practice, however, the final decision rests with the individual minister. Most ministers are accommodating — particularly for entrance music, exit music, and music played during periods of reflection. Music played during Holy Communion or other liturgical moments of the service is more likely to be expected to be sacred.
Catholic churches tend to be more prescriptive. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal provides guidance that music should serve the liturgy, which in practice often means sacred music is expected during the Mass itself. Non-religious music is more likely to be permitted before and after the formal liturgy. Always check with the priest directly.
Non-conformist churches (Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed) vary widely. Many are very accommodating of personal music choices.
The consistent advice for any church service: speak to the minister as early as possible. Music choices are a normal part of the conversation they have with families planning a service, and most are genuinely willing to accommodate meaningful personal choices.
Civil funeral ceremonies — conducted by a humanist or civil celebrant, often at a funeral home chapel, hotel, or outdoor venue — offer the greatest flexibility of all. There are no liturgical requirements and no restrictions on music beyond what is practical at the venue.
For woodland burials and natural burial grounds, the venue itself determines what's possible. Many are remote and may not have professional audio systems — a Bluetooth speaker, a phone, or live acoustic music may be the practical solution. Ask the site about their audio provision early in the planning process.
A personalised memorial song is delivered as a studio-quality audio file file. This can be played at any of the venue types above:
At a crematorium: Provide the MP3 to your funeral director, who will upload it to the venue's audio system. Do this as early as possible — ideally a week before the service.
At a church: Speak to the minister first about where in the service it will be played. Once agreed, provide the MP3 to whoever is managing the audio at the service — often the organist, a verger, or a family member with a laptop or phone connected to the church's system.
At a civil ceremony: Give the MP3 to the celebrant or the venue's audio coordinator in advance. For outdoor or informal settings, having it on a phone or tablet with a decent speaker is sufficient.
At a wake or gathering: Simply play it from any device. A phone through a Bluetooth speaker, a laptop, a shared streaming link — there are no restrictions on playing your song at a private gathering.
Confirm the venue's audio system. Ask your funeral director which system the crematorium or chapel uses and what format they need.
Get the MP3 early. If you are commissioning a personalised song, factor in the delivery time. Standard delivery is 5 days; rush delivery is 48 hours. Order with enough time to receive the file and submit it to the venue.
Listen to it before the service. Not just to approve the song — but to make sure the audio file plays correctly on the device or system that will be used.
Have a backup. If the audio system has any issues, know which device you would use as a backup and that the track is on it.
Check the length. If the song is playing during a procession or a moment of reflection, make sure it is long enough. Most personalised memorial songs are 3–4 minutes — enough for an entrance or an exit, but check against the likely timing of the service.
Delivered as a studio-quality audio file, ready to play at any service, share with family, or keep forever. From £89, delivered in 5 days.
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