Music Copyright and Funeral Recordings
What your music license covers, and where there is risk.
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A Webcasting License is Not Enough
Many funeral homes hold a Funeral Webcasting License or a similar performance license. These typically allow copyright music during a live-streamed service. However, these licenses do not extend to recordings. Once a service is recorded and made accessible after the fact, they are no longer compliant.
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“Once the live event and stream are over, then the licenses no longer cover any additional publication if the music is part of the service.
This means that if you choose to record the service and post it on your site... the music must be muted, because neither license allows a recording and playback of copyrighted music.”
- Poul Lemasters, General Counsel, ICCFA Source
When Recordings Breach Copyright
Recording and sharing a service with copyright music is outside your license, including when it is:
- Downloaded by a family
- Saved to USB or cloud
- Shared via email, social media, or direct link
- Hosted on a third-party platform (even if embedded on your website)
Avoid Up To 150,000 of Fines
Each playing of an unlicensed song multiplies your risk
- Up to $150,000 per song if the jury determines the copyright infringement was 'willful'
- Up to $30,000 per song in damages
-
Plus attorney's fees
Source: NFDA (US) via Director Aug 2025
How OneRoom Keeps You Covered
To remove this risk, OneRoom has built Music Copyright Protection into our platform.
How OneRoom Keeps You Covered
To remove this risk, OneRoom has built Music Copyright Protection into our platform.
Here’s how it works:
- In recordings, copyrighted music is muted.
- Livestreams never have music muted. Adjustments apply to the recording only.
- Speech is never muted - eulogies, tributes, readings are preserved.
- A discreet message notes that copyrighted music was muted and identifies the song.
- A music playlist is available for families to revisit or share outside the recording.
Here’s how it works:
- In recordings, copyrighted music is muted.
- Livestreams never have music muted. Adjustments apply to the recording only.
- Speech is never muted - eulogies, tributes, readings are preserved.
- A discreet message notes that copyrighted music was muted and identifies the song.
- A music playlist is available for families to revisit or share outside the recording.
This feature will be automatically included for all OneRoom customers. No extra cost, no extra setup.
Music Copyright FAQs
These answers are based on NFDA (US) published guidance on music licensing for funerals, combined with how OneRoom applies that guidance in our platform.
Isn’t my webcasting license enough?
No. NFDA says it covers only the live webcast (through your funeral home’s website) and the music played as part of that. It doesn’t cover keeping that music in a recording long-term, posting to social media, or sharing it by download, USB, or disc.
What license would cover a recording?
To keep copyrighted music in a recording, you’d need a synchronization license from each song’s publisher. NFDA says these are almost impossible to get for funerals.
What about giving the family a USB or disc?
That needs another license, a mechanical license, as well as the synchronization license above. Neither comes with the NFDA or ICCFA performance or webcasting licenses.
Will religious hymns or live performances be muted?
Most traditional hymns are public domain and won’t be muted. Modern hymns or copyrighted arrangements might be.
Live performances are unlikely to be muted.
You're not just streaming a service - you're creating a permanent record.
Make sure that record is legally compliant with OneRoom.
