What to do when a Bandcamp account holder dies
Contact Bandcamp (Songtradr) to request a transfer of accounts after an account holder dies
Bandcamp Support
WebsiteVisit website →
Bandcamp Support
Timeline
No published timeline. Payouts process daily, weekly, or monthly depending on artist settings. Higher-value sales may be manually reviewed (up to 14 days). Music likely remains listed indefinitely.
WebsiteFile estate claim →
(General customer service)
Verified Mar 2026
Bandcamp has no published bereavement or deceased artist policy. The Terms of Use state the agreement is "personal to you and not assignable, transferable or sublicensable except with Company's prior written consent." No provisions address death, succession, inheritance, or estate access. The Termination section states the company may terminate access "with or without cause, with or without notice" which may result in "forfeiture and destruction of all information associated with your membership." In practice, artist catalogs appear to remain listed and purchasable indefinitely since Bandcamp has no subscription requirement or automatic delisting policy. Payouts continue to the linked payment method (Stripe or PayPal, depending on when the artist migrated). The estate would need to contact Bandcamp support through the web form at bandcamp.com/contact with legal documentation to request account access or payment method changes.
How to request a transfer
To request a transfer of Bandcamp accounts after an account holder's death, follow these steps:
1
Contact Bandcamp support through the web form at bandcamp.com/contact. There is no published email address for support. There is no formal estate process, so requests are handled case-by-case.
2
Provide death certificate and proof of executor/administrator authority. Specific documentation requirements are not published by Bandcamp.
3
Request that Bandcamp update the payment method to redirect future sales revenue to an estate-controlled account. Artists currently on PayPal or mid-transition to Stripe should clarify which payment system their account uses.
4
Music likely remains listed and purchasable without any action. Unlike subscription-based platforms (DistroKid), Bandcamp has no annual fee and no automatic delisting. The catalog should continue generating sales indefinitely.
5
If the estate has login credentials: log in directly to withdraw accumulated earnings, update payment settings, and manage the catalog. This is the most reliable path.
6
Consider whether to keep the catalog active. Bandcamp back catalogs continue selling for years, especially for artists with established fan bases. Keeping the page live preserves the revenue stream.
7
For physical merchandise (vinyl, shirts, etc.): the estate must fulfill any outstanding orders or issue refunds. Future physical orders should be paused by delisting physical items if the estate cannot fulfill them.
8
Be aware of Bandcamp Friday events. On designated dates throughout the year, Bandcamp waives its revenue share entirely, meaning the artist/estate keeps 100% of sales (minus payment processing fees). 2026 Bandcamp Friday dates: February 6, March 6, May 1, August 7, September 4, October 2, November 6, and December 4.
Required Documents
- Not formally published by Bandcamp
- Likely required: death certificate and proof of executor/administrator authority
Timeline
No published timeline. Payouts process daily, weekly, or monthly depending on artist settings. Higher-value sales may be manually reviewed (up to 14 days). Music likely remains listed indefinitely.
Frequently asked questions
Music likely remains listed and purchasable indefinitely. Unlike subscription-based distributors, Bandcamp has no annual fee and no automatic delisting policy. The catalog continues generating sales. The estate should contact Bandcamp support through the web form at bandcamp.com/contact to update the payment method and manage the account.
Not automatically. The TOS state the agreement is non-transferable except with Bandcamp's written consent. The estate should contact support with legal documentation. Bandcamp takes no ownership of the music, so copyright passes to heirs through normal inheritance regardless of account status.
There is no formal published process. The executor should contact Bandcamp through the web form at bandcamp.com/contact and provide a death certificate and proof of executor authority. If the estate has access to the account login, it can directly update the payment method to redirect future payouts. Bandcamp is transitioning from PayPal to Stripe (phased rollout beginning 2025-2026); the payout method available depends on where the account was in that transition.
Yes. Because Bandcamp requires no ongoing subscription, a deceased artist's catalog remains live and continues generating sales without any renewal payments. The estate can maintain the account, fulfill physical merchandise orders, and redirect digital sale payouts to an estate-controlled account. Bandcamp takes no ownership of the music, so the estate controls the copyright and may also distribute the music on other platforms.
After the transfer is complete, the recipient can use the accounts according to the program's standard terms. Document the deceased account holder's details to make this process easier for your executor or family.
Bandcamp Support
WebsiteVisit website →
Bandcamp Support
Timeline
No published timeline. Payouts process daily, weekly, or monthly depending on artist settings. Higher-value sales may be manually reviewed (up to 14 days). Music likely remains listed indefinitely.
WebsiteFile estate claim →
(General customer service)
Verified Mar 2026