Create a Funeral Playlist
on Spotify & Apple Music
Create a funeral playlist on Spotify or Apple Music with this complete guide. Learn to organize, share, and download memorial music for a meaningful service.
Modern Tools for Memorial Music
Create a funeral playlist using streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music to organize your memorial service music efficiently. These platforms make it easy to curate, organize, and share your selections with family members, funeral directors, and technical staff.
This guide walks you through creating the perfect funeral playlist, downloading for offline use, and ensuring flawless playback during the service—all using free or subscription-based streaming services you may already have.
Why Use Streaming Services?
Advantages of Spotify & Apple Music
- •Massive music library: Access to millions of songs including versions by specific artists
- •Easy organization: Create, reorder, and edit playlists instantly
- •Family collaboration: Share playlists for input from multiple family members
- •Offline download: Play music without internet connection at the venue
- •Professional quality: High-quality audio files for clear playback
- •Free or low cost: Free tiers available, or affordable subscriptions
💡 Pro Tip
Get a premium subscription temporarily for the funeral planning period to enable offline downloads and eliminate ads during the service. Both Spotify and Apple Music offer free trials.
Creating a Playlist on Spotify
Step-by-Step Instructions
Open Spotify & Create New Playlist
Desktop: Click “Create Playlist” in the left sidebar
Mobile: Tap “Your Library” → “+” button → “Playlist”
Name Your Playlist
Use a clear name like “Memorial Service - [Name]” or “[Name]'s Celebration of Life Music”
Search & Add Songs
Use the search bar to find songs. Search by song title, artist, or both for best results.
Click or tap the three dots next to any song → “Add to Playlist” → Select your funeral playlist
Organize Song Order
Drag and drop songs to arrange them in the order they'll play during the service. Consider the flow: processional, reflection music, recessional.
Download for Offline Use
Requires Spotify Premium
Toggle the “Download” switch at the top of the playlist. All songs will download to your device for offline playback.
Share with Family & Venue
Click the three dots next to the playlist name → “Share” → Copy link
Send the link to family members for feedback or to the funeral director/AV technician.
Spotify-Specific Tips
- •Use the desktop app for easier drag-and-drop song arrangement
- •Turn off “Autoplay” in settings to prevent random songs playing after your playlist ends
- •Add a playlist description with service details for reference
- •Make playlist “Collaborative” if you want family to add suggestions
Creating a Playlist on Apple Music
Step-by-Step Instructions
Open Apple Music App
iPhone/iPad: Open Music app → Tap “Library” → Tap “Playlists” → “New Playlist”
Mac: Open Music app → File → New → Playlist
Name Your Playlist
Give it a meaningful name and optional description
You can also add a custom cover image if desired
Add Songs to Playlist
Search for songs using the search function. When you find a song, tap/click the “...” menu → “Add to Playlist” → Select your funeral playlist
Arrange Song Order
Tap “Edit” at top right → Drag songs using the grip icon (three horizontal lines) to reorder
Download for Offline
Requires Apple Music subscription
Tap the download cloud icon next to the playlist, or tap “...” → “Download”
Share Playlist
Tap “...” → “Share Playlist” → Choose how to share (Message, Email, Copy Link, etc.)
Apple Music-Specific Tips
- •Apple Music integrates with iTunes library if you have purchased songs
- •Turn off “Repeat” to prevent playlist from looping automatically
- •Use “Up Next” feature to preview what's coming during playback
- •Check download status before the service to ensure all songs are available offline
Technical Setup for the Service
Day-of-Service Checklist
- •Download all songs: Ensure playlist is fully downloaded 24 hours before
- •Enable airplane mode: Prevents calls/notifications during service
- •Charge device fully: 100% battery or bring charger/power bank
- •Test venue connection: Arrive early to test audio cable, Bluetooth, or AirPlay
- •Bring aux cable: 3.5mm audio cable as backup connection method
- •Disable auto-lock: Set screen timeout to “Never” temporarily
- •Turn off shuffle: Ensure songs play in your intended order
💡 Pro Tip
Create a backup by having the playlist downloaded on two different devices (phone and tablet, or two family members' phones). Technical failures are rare but devastating during an important moment.
Connecting to Venue Sound Systems
Wired Connection
Most reliable option
- • 3.5mm aux cable (headphone jack)
- • Lightning to 3.5mm adapter (iPhone)
- • USB-C to 3.5mm adapter (Android)
Wireless Connection
Convenient but requires testing
- • Bluetooth pairing (test beforehand)
- • AirPlay (Apple devices to compatible systems)
- • Ensure stable connection throughout
Playlist Organization Tips
Structuring Your Funeral Playlist
Organize songs in the order they'll play during the service:
Prelude Music (30 min before)
3-5 soft, reflective songs as guests arrive
Processional
1 dignified song as the service begins
Reflection Music
2-3 songs during readings or quiet moments
Special Tribute
1-2 personally meaningful songs
Recessional
1 uplifting or comforting song as service concludes
Technology Made Simple
Create a funeral playlist on your preferred streaming platform to simplify music planning during an already difficult time. Both Spotify and Apple Music offer intuitive tools for organizing memorial music, collaborating with family, and ensuring flawless playback during the service.
With proper preparation—downloading songs offline, testing connections, and organizing your playlist thoughtfully—you can create a beautiful musical tribute that honors your loved one perfectly.
Sarah Mitchell
Funeral Music CuratorFormer church music director with 15 years of experience helping families choose meaningful funeral music. Created YourFuneralSongs after losing her mother in 2019.