Funeral Music in Australia
A Guide to Chapel Service Songs

Funeral practices in Australia and New Zealand have shifted significantly over the past two decades. Fewer than 40% of Australian funerals now take place in a church, with the majority held at dedicated chapel facilities operated by funeral homes, crematoriums, or civil celebrants.

This has opened up considerable flexibility around music — but it also means families often don't know what's possible or expected. This guide covers music at chapel services across Australia and New Zealand, what the venues allow, and how to include a personalised memorial song.

What a chapel service typically looks like

A chapel service is a funeral or memorial ceremony held in a dedicated space — not a church, but not a private home either. The chapels at crematoriums like Fawkner, Springvale, or Rookwood, along with funeral home chapels at InvoCare, Tobin Brothers, or Dignity sites, all fit this description. In New Zealand, similar facilities operate at Davis Funerals, Waikumete Cemetery, and Harbour City.

These venues are typically secular or multi-faith by design. The service is usually led by a civil celebrant, though ministers and religious leaders can also officiate if the family wishes. Music is chosen by the family without the restrictions that sometimes apply in church settings.

What music is allowed

Almost anything. Chapel services in Australia and New Zealand allow families to choose any music they wish — commercial tracks, hymns, classical pieces, pop songs, or custom-commissioned memorial songs. There are no liturgical restrictions.

The typical structure includes three to five music cues:

Entrance music as the coffin enters or as mourners gather.

A reflection song midway through the service, often during a photo slideshow.

Committal music during the coffin's movement for cremation (or not, if the family prefers silence at this moment).

Exit music as mourners leave.

Some services also include a song sung live — by a family member, a hired soloist, or the congregation singing along to a well-known piece.

How chapel audio systems work

Australian and New Zealand chapels typically use professional funeral audio systems similar to the Obitus and Wesley Media platforms used in the UK. Many use MuzicPoint, Funeral Music Services, or in-house systems managed by the funeral director.

For commercial tracks: Your funeral director submits the song through the venue's audio system. Most popular tracks are already in the library. Less common music or custom songs require the funeral director to upload a file.

For a custom memorial song: You provide the audio file — usually an MP3 or WAV — to your funeral director in advance. They load it onto the chapel's system for the service. Allow at least 48 hours between receiving your song and the service.

For outdoor or alternative venues: A Bluetooth speaker, a phone, or a laptop with a decent speaker is usually sufficient for graveside services, scattering of ashes, or bush services.

Licensing and rights

Australia and New Zealand chapel venues hold APRA AMCOS licences that cover the public performance of recorded music at funerals and memorial services. You do not need to arrange any separate licence for commercial music played at a chapel service.

For a personalised memorial song you have commissioned, no licence is required at all — you own the rights to your song outright and can play it anywhere you choose.

Music traditions across Australian and New Zealand communities

Different communities have different traditions around funeral music. A few practical notes:

Secular services — increasingly common, especially in urban areas — tend to favour the person's own favourite music, Australian artists they loved, or a custom song written for them.

Catholic and Orthodox services — if held at a chapel rather than a church, the service often includes hymns chosen by the family, with room for additional non-religious tracks.

Pacific Islander services — often include significant live music, with family members and community singing hymns and traditional songs. A custom memorial song complements rather than replaces this tradition.

Māori tangihanga — typically held at a marae rather than a chapel, but when chapel elements are included, waiata (traditional songs) are central. A custom English-language memorial song is sometimes added as a personal tribute during chapel portions.