What happens to a Spotify for Artists account when someone dies
Spotify AB publishes no process specific to a deceased person's account; a written request goes in through Spotify AB's support ticket system.
Spotify AB decides what happens to a Spotify for Artists account after a death case by case; its terms promise no transfer.
Spotify AB publishes no process specific to a deceased person's account; a written request goes in through Spotify AB's support ticket system.
How to request a transfer
What Spotify AB's terms say at death
- Section 7 (About These Terms)
“You may not assign these Terms, in whole or in part, nor transfer or sub-license your rights under these Terms, to any third party.”1
What Spotify AB says happens5
- Who owns the asset
Spotify for Artists is licensed to the Subscribing Entity, not sold or transferred, and users agree not to redistribute or transfer it.1
- Court orders and legal process
In a dispute over the ownership or authorized use of an account, Spotify may suspend access, resolve the dispute with a final decision, or leave it to the parties and a court, and it abides by any lawful court order.1
- Verifying the requester
A new claim on an artist profile is verified by a link to the artist's website or social channels and reviewed manually, which can take a few days; a claimed profile cannot be requested again.2
- Balances, payouts and refunds
Recording royalties are paid to rightsholders and reach artists through the licensor that delivered the music, typically the label or distributor; publishing royalties go to publishers, collecting societies and mechanical agencies.3
Spotify pays rightsholders according to their streamshare, and they pay artists and songwriters under their own agreements, which Spotify has no knowledge of.3, 4
- Continuing a shop, channel or listing
Distributors handle getting music onto Spotify and pay streaming royalties; a signed artist's label likely already works with one.5
Vocal impersonation is allowed in music on Spotify only when the impersonated artist has authorized it, and artists can report a content mismatch even before release.6
Other companies and product lines involved4
Not in Spotify for Artists's published guidance4
- A process for a deceased account holder
- How long a request takes
- A phone number for this
- A complete list of the documents to send
Sources7
A written request to Spotify AB can ask it to transfer the registration to a new registrant and preserve the account while the estate is opened.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter for Spotify for Artists drafts that request from the estate's details.
Sources
Data sourced from Spotify AB primary sources (8 pages reviewed). How we research.
Spotify for Artists estate claims
Spotify for Artists Support
Mailing address
Website
Estate requests go through general customer service.
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