What happens to TuneCore royalties when the owner dies
TuneCore, Inc. has a formal process for transferring royalties after an account holder dies
TuneCore Artist Support
WebsiteVisit website→
HoursContact from the email address on the account; TuneCore may send a one-time code to authenticate.
TuneCore Artist Support (deceased account holder / account details)
Timeline
TuneCore does not publish a dedicated deceased-account processing timeline. An account-ownership transfer by changing the email and password is effective immediately once completed by the account holder. Royalties are paid out approximately 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, so an heir who takes over the account should expect earnings to arrive on that quarterly cadence rather than on demand. First royalty payments for newly collected publishing royalties can take many months to appear.
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Verified Jul 2026
When a TuneCore account holder dies, TuneCore, Inc. provides a process for transferring royalties to the estate or designated heirs.
How to request a transfer
Here is the process for transferring TuneCore royalties after the account holder dies:
1
Locate the deceased artist's TuneCore login (account email and password). With the login, you can sign in to the account, see the catalog and earnings, and complete an ownership transfer. The distributed recordings stay live and keep earning while you do this.
2
To transfer ownership of the whole account, change the account email and password to the new owner's details in Account Settings. This gives the new owner every album in the account and all past accounting data. Note:
- •The new email address cannot already be attached to another TuneCore account.
- •Changing the email/password moves ownership of the entire catalog, not a single release.
- •See Can I move a release from one TuneCore account to another? and How do I update my contact information?.
3
If you do not have the login, or need TuneCore to update account details for a deceased artist, contact TuneCore Artist Support. TuneCore asks that you contact them from the email associated with the account and may send a one-time code to authenticate; for a deceased account holder, be ready to provide:
- •A certified copy of the death certificate
- •Documentation showing you are the executor, administrator, or otherwise the authorized person to act for the estate (for example, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration)
- •The artist name(s), release names, and any UPCs or ISRCs that identify the catalog
4
Set up withdrawals so accrued and future royalties can be paid out. Withdrawals run through Payoneer to PayPal, a bank account, or a prepaid Mastercard, via Withdraw Money in the account's Balance History. See How do I withdraw my money?.
5
Decide whether to keep the catalog distributed (it keeps earning) or to close the account. Royalties are paid out roughly 45 days after each calendar quarter, so closing the account too early can leave a pending payout uncollected. See How do I close my account?.
Required Documents
- The deceased artist's TuneCore account email and password (the most direct path to taking over the account)
- Certified copy of the death certificate (if contacting TuneCore Artist Support to update a deceased account holder's details)
- Documentation showing you are the authorized estate representative (for example, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration)
- Artist name(s), release names, and any UPCs or ISRCs identifying the catalog
Timeline
TuneCore does not publish a dedicated deceased-account processing timeline. An account-ownership transfer by changing the email and password is effective immediately once completed by the account holder. Royalties are paid out approximately 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, so an heir who takes over the account should expect earnings to arrive on that quarterly cadence rather than on demand. First royalty payments for newly collected publishing royalties can take many months to appear.
Frequently asked questions
The account does not disappear. The distributed recordings stay live on the streaming and download stores and keep earning royalties, and any accrued earnings remain in the account. TuneCore documents account-ownership transfer by changing the account email and password, which gives the new owner every album in the account and all past accounting data. That is the practical path for an heir or estate to take over the catalog and continue collecting royalties through the same account.
Yes. The recordings remain distributed and continue to generate royalties, which accrue in the account. Whoever takes over the account (by inheriting the login or by having ownership transferred) can withdraw the accrued and future royalties. Withdrawals run through Payoneer to PayPal, a bank account, or a prepaid Mastercard, and royalties are paid out roughly 45 days after each calendar quarter.
No. TuneCore does not offer a beneficiary designation. Succession happens by transferring the account itself (changing the email and password to the new owner) rather than by naming someone on the account. Record who should inherit the catalog in your estate documents and in your written account notes.
The most direct path is the account login itself; with the email and password, the account and catalog can be taken over directly. If you must contact TuneCore Artist Support instead, be ready to provide a certified death certificate, documentation showing you are the authorized estate representative (such as Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration), and the artist names, release names, and any UPCs or ISRCs identifying the catalog. TuneCore asks that you contact them from the email associated with the account and may send a one-time authentication code.
TuneCore documents transferring ownership by changing the account email and password in Account Settings. Doing so gives the new owner access to and ownership of every album in the account and all past accounting data. The one restriction TuneCore states is that the new email address cannot already be attached to an existing TuneCore account.
Earnings are withdrawn through TuneCore's payout partner Payoneer, which can send the money to PayPal, a bank account, or a prepaid Mastercard. Use Withdraw Money in the account's Balance History. Royalties pay out on a quarterly cadence (about 45 days after each calendar quarter), so an heir should expect earnings on that schedule rather than on demand, and should avoid closing the account before a pending payout is collected.
Once transferred, royalties are subject to the program's standard terms. Having the deceased account holder's details documented in advance makes the transfer process significantly easier for the family.
Sources
Data sourced from TuneCore, Inc. primary sources (7 pages reviewed). How we research.
TuneCore Artist Support
WebsiteVisit website→
HoursContact from the email address on the account; TuneCore may send a one-time code to authenticate.
TuneCore Artist Support (deceased account holder / account details)
Timeline
TuneCore does not publish a dedicated deceased-account processing timeline. An account-ownership transfer by changing the email and password is effective immediately once completed by the account holder. Royalties are paid out approximately 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, so an heir who takes over the account should expect earnings to arrive on that quarterly cadence rather than on demand. First royalty payments for newly collected publishing royalties can take many months to appear.
WebsiteSubmit claim online →
Verified Jul 2026
