Estate planning as a DistroKid account holder
DistroKid LLC reviews transfer requests for accounts individually upon receipt of documentation
(General customer service)
Verified Apr 2026
DistroKid is the largest independent music distribution platform, delivering music to Spotify, Apple Music, and 150+ other streaming services. Unlike record labels, DistroKid takes no ownership of the music and artists keep 100% of royalties. A DistroKid account holds the artist's entire distributed catalog, streaming royalties, and payout settings. The critical estate planning concern: DistroKid is subscription-based ($24.99+/year), and if the subscription lapses, all music is removed from streaming services unless the "Leave a Legacy" extra ($29-49/release) was purchased. DistroKid has no formal bereavement or estate succession process. The Terms of Service do not address death or account inheritance.
After a DistroKid account holder dies, DistroKid LLC may transfer accounts to a designated recipient, but this is handled case by case. The outcome depends on the documentation provided and is entirely at DistroKid LLC's discretion.
What happens at death
DistroKid has no published bereavement or deceased user policy. The Terms of Service do not address death, succession, or estate transfer. In practice, the account continues functioning as long as the subscription auto-renews via the linked payment method. If the subscription lapses (payment failure, card expiration), music is removed from all streaming services. The "Leave a Legacy" album extra ($29 per single, $49 per album) prevents removal for individual releases even if the subscription lapses. Without Leave a Legacy, the estate must maintain the subscription to keep music live. Artists retain 100% ownership of their music, meaning copyright passes to the estate through normal inheritance.
How to protect your DistroKid accounts
Transfer of accounts after death is not guaranteed under DistroKid LLC's terms. Lifetime planning offers a more reliable way to manage and share accounts while the account is active.
Here are 7 steps to protect and manage your DistroKid accounts while the account is active:
1
Purchase "Leave a Legacy" for your most important releases. At $29 per single and $49 per album (2+ tracks), this is the single most important estate planning step. Without it, all music is removed from streaming services when the subscription lapses. Each release must be purchased individually.
2
Configure Splits to route royalties to family members or heirs. Splits automatically send earnings percentages to designated recipients. Non-DistroKid users must pay $10/year for a DistroKid subscription to collect earnings. This ensures royalties flow to the right people regardless of who controls the account.
3
Share your DistroKid login credentials with your executor. Since DistroKid has no formal estate process, direct account access is the most reliable path for managing the catalog and withdrawing earnings.
4
Ensure your subscription payment method (credit card, etc.) will remain active. Set up auto-renewal and consider using a payment method tied to a bank account the executor can access.
5
Withdraw accumulated earnings regularly via distrokid.com/bank. Do not let a large balance build up in the DistroKid account, as the estate's ability to access it without credentials is extremely limited.
6
Keep local backups of all your music files, artwork, and metadata. If the account is ever cancelled and releases are removed, having the original files allows heirs to re-distribute through DistroKid or another distributor. Previously uploaded files remain in the DistroKid Vault even after cancellation.
7
Document your catalog in your estate plan: number of releases, estimated monthly streaming revenue, which releases have Leave a Legacy, and Splits configurations. This helps the executor understand the asset's value.
Family sharing
DistroKid accounts are tied to an email address and password with no formal transfer mechanism. There is no multi-user access, delegate, or family sharing feature for the main account. However, the "Splits" feature (sometimes branded as "Teams") routes royalties automatically to collaborators, producers, or other recipients based on configurable percentages. When inviting a non-DistroKid user to a Split, the inviter can either pay $10/year so the recipient can collect and withdraw without a full subscription, or let the recipient purchase their own DistroKid subscription (50% off the first year). This is the closest mechanism to estate planning: configuring Splits to route royalties to family members. Additionally, releases can be transferred between DistroKid accounts by contacting DistroKid support -- both the current and new account must be active DistroKid subscribers.
When someone dies
Handling DistroKid accounts after a death
Transfer is handled on a case-by-case basis, 7-step process, and 2 required documents.
View details →There is no beneficiary designation option for DistroKid. This means accounts cannot be directed to a specific person through the program itself, unlike traditional financial accounts.
Frequently asked questions
There is no formal account transfer mechanism. DistroKid has no published bereavement or estate succession process. The estate should contact support with documentation. In practice, maintaining login access is the most reliable path. Individual releases (not full accounts) can be transferred between two active DistroKid accounts by contacting support -- both the sending and receiving account must carry active subscriptions.
Leave a Legacy is a one-time fee ($29 per single, $49 per album of 2+ tracks) that keeps individual releases on streaming services permanently, even if the DistroKid subscription lapses. Each release must be purchased individually. This is the most important estate planning feature for musicians using DistroKid.
Yes. Splits automatically route royalty percentages to designated recipients (collaborators, family, heirs). Non-DistroKid users must pay $10/year for a DistroKid subscription to collect earnings. Configuring Splits to include family members ensures royalties flow to the right people regardless of account access.
If the subscription lapses and Leave a Legacy was not purchased for a release, DistroKid sends takedown requests to streaming services including Spotify. The music is removed from Spotify and all other platforms. Royalties earned before removal are still owed to the artist, but streaming services report earnings 1-2 months after the streaming period, so there may be a delay before final earnings appear.
Yes. A cancelled account can be restored at any time by signing in, selecting "Restore Account," choosing a new subscription plan, and entering payment information. Previously uploaded metadata and track files remain accessible via the DistroKid Vault. However, music that was removed from streaming services during the cancellation period will need to be re-distributed.
DistroKid offers three plans: Musician ($24.99/year, 1 artist), Musician Plus ($44.99/year, 2 artists), and Ultimate ($89.99/year, up to 100 artists). All plans include unlimited uploads and 100% royalty retention. Leave a Legacy is an additional one-time fee per release ($29/single, $49/album).
Sources
Data sourced from DistroKid LLC primary sources (14 pages reviewed). How we research.
(General customer service)
Verified Apr 2026