Funeral Directors’ New Music Tax to Cost Families More
Funeral Expenses to Rise
Organizing a funeral for a loved one will now cost families an average of 5 euros more. According to funeral homes, this additional charge will either be billed only to families who use music during the service or spread across all clients, resulting in an increase of approximately 1 euro per family. In the latter case, even families whose religious traditions do not include music during funerals will be required to pay.
Music Licensing Fees Extend to Funeral Homes
Funeral homes are joining the ranks of karaoke bars, hotels, hair salons, stadiums, and other public venues that are subject to music licensing fees. "Music plays an increasingly important role in remembrance," explained a spokesperson for the National Federation of Funeral Services. "It allows us to express emotions and personalize the tribute paid to the deceased by reflecting their preferences."
Fees Distributed to Rights Holders
Funeral homes will remit this licensing fee to the French Society of Authors, Composers, and Music Publishers (SACEM). After deducting an administrative fee, SACEM will distribute the funds to its members. The total annual amount to be shared among rights holders is estimated to range between 700,000 and 800,000 euros. Half of the royalties from a song goes to the publishers, while the other half is divided equally between the authors and composers. Performers will receive a small portion of the 800,000 euros. Orchestras that perform classical works will not receive any compensation because composers such as Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven are now in the public domain.
Most Popular Funeral Songs
In 2024, France Bleu, in collaboration with the "Le Choix Funéraire" cooperative, compiled a list of the ten most played songs at funerals. Jean-Jacques Goldman’s "Puisque tu pars" topped the list, followed by Michel Berger’s "Le Paradis blanc," Daniel Guichard’s "Mon vieux," Céline Dion’s "Vole," Grégoire’s "Chanson pour un enterrement," Claudio Capéo’s "Si j’avais su," Jean Ferrat’s "La Montagne," Charles Gounod’s "Ave Maria," Kendji Girac’s "Les Yeux de la mama," and Céline Dion’s "Encore un soir."
Agreement Reached After Disputes
After more than a year of discussions that culminated in a court hearing, SACEM and the Federation of Funeral Services reached a settlement. In hotels, the calculation of licensing fees is based on the number of rooms and star rating. For funeral ceremonies, the number of processions will serve as the basis. "One in four ceremonies involves music subject to copyright fees. This 25% rate was used in the calculation," explained the FNF.
Distribution Imperfections
Currently, there is no precise record of the songs played at funeral ceremonies. The distribution of royalties is therefore imperfect, as it relies on analogy in the field of so-called background music. "Each quarter, we review music consumption, including songs played on radio, television, at concerts, and in album sales," said Stéphane Vasseur, Regional Network Director at SACEM. This practice has drawn criticism from rights holders. By 2025, the vast majority of songs released before the 1980s will no longer be played on television or radio, even on stations like Nostalgie and MFM. However, they continue to be streamed on YouTube and other platforms, but this digital data is not yet included in SACEM’s calculations. "If funeral homes submit playlists to us, we will identify the rights holders, and that amount will be added to their lump sum. But this supplement is marginal," Vasseur clarified. "It is impossible to declare everything precisely. We often have to work quickly, and sometimes families make changes at the last minute," said a spokesperson for the French Federation of Funeral Services.
