Please help

[Callaird]

My dad passed away 2 weeks ago.
The funeral is on Friday.
I’ve found a song that is perfect for dad.
Found out today that we need permission to use it.
I’ve emailed the singer but no reply as yet.
We have to give the funeral director the song and artist tomorrow by 2pm.
I cannot find another song that comes close to the song I want.

AIBU to ask you all to help me find a song?!

The song I want is called ‘Thank you for being my dad by Georgia Box.

TIA

The original version is on Amazon by the guy who wrote it in 2010. Jon Barker. Doubt you’d need permission for that one.
Sorry for your loss.

I’m so sorry for your loss

Are you sure you need permission? Funerals are usually considered private events, so a licence to use songs isn’t needed.

FelicityPike The original song is sung from a son to his father. Georgia’s is more ambiguous so works better for myself and my brother.

OaxacaChihuahua

The crematorium has said that we need permission to play it.

If this is the artist www.facebook.com/georgiaboxofficial there's also a booking agent listed who might be able to help you (Live Bookings - [email protected])

Sorry for your loss, hope this helps.

Sorry to hear your sad news
However I think they are wrong and you don't need permission. Is it being recorded?

Weddings and funerals are deemed to be private functions by PRS for Music and PPL. This means both live music and music recordings can be freely played in these services. However, a dubbing licence would be required if any sound recordings are played whilst recording takes place, or dubbed on afterwards.

'Easier to ask forgiveness than get permission' or however the old saying goes. In this case I'm sure anyone would have the compassion not to mind

This doesn't seem right to me. I've never got permission to play music at a private event. We didn't write to Take That and Snow Patrol for a young friend's cremation. I'd give the council a call tomorrow and double check.

People don’t write to every artist to use a song for a funeral, they should have a music license. I think they are playing you up a bit.

We had the Beatles at the dad’s funeral. As we used the crematoriums website we didn’t need permission, I guess they had already sorted that. Sorry for your loss. It seems a lot to be asked grieving families to chase artists for permission

Thank you for all your replies.

The crematorium refused to let us use it without permission.

Thankfully Georgia sent me the permission and MP3 and they have agreed to play the song.

It’s a weight off as my brother and I could not agree on another song!

We have Let it be as we come in
Georgia during the reflection
Always look on the bright side of life as we leave.

Could I ask any parents to write down 3 songs, two readings and choose 12 photos. That has been so tough!!

The crematorium said it was because they could only find it on YouTube.

I found an MP3 of it but then they said we needed permission.

The other two were fine. Beatles and Monty Python.

It’s a really lovely song. The perfect words.

Glad you got sorted OP. I hope things go to plan for you 💐