No one will be able to escape it because it is an integral part of the ceremonies during funeral.
Organizing funeral is always a difficult test for those close to the deceased, both emotionally and financial. Between the coffin to choose with the different options and the ceremony to be organized, the bill can quickly increase, making this step even more trying. According to the services chosen, the cost of funeral can vary from several thousand euros, a budget often difficult to assume for certain families. And in these moments, each small economy counts, but sometimes it is impossible to escape it. This is the case for a formerly free service, now billed to everyone.
This is the music broadcast during funerals. Long anchored in traditions to honor the deceased and comfort relatives, it is now the subject of a royalty imposed by an agreement between the SACEM and the funeral pumps. Concretely, the average cost will be 5 euros. Depending on the funeral firms, this amount will either be billed to the families of the deceased, or it will be smoothed over all customers, which would amount to 1 euro per family. SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers) told us that “The agreement provides for a sum of one euro on average per ceremony. This amount of one euro is valid for all the music broadcast (a song like several).” In addition, the royalty applies for all songs, including religious songs, and this “At each stage of the funeral journey”.
A measure that is obviously difficult to pass for many French people. On the social network X (formerly Twitter), the reactions fuse: hundreds of internet users denounce this new tax, expressing their anger under the publications that speak of it. “From racket to the grave”comments a person. “It is a scandal, a shame, a profit on death”,, “Tax tax taxer to the end”, declare two other Internet users. “Even to leave this world in music, you have to pay … Soon a tax on tears too?”questions a young woman.
Despite the negative opinions of the main concerned, this contribution is of Ores and “Already in force”told us the Sacem. The company even defends itself by explaining that this corresponds to a royalty fee. “Musical works are the fruit of the work of the authors and composers. Their diffusion, including during funeral ceremonies, implies respect for copyright, which constitutes their only remuneration. It is not a new subject or a tax, operators of the funeral sector have always been subject to respect for copyright for the dissemination of music during ceremonies.”
