Digital legacy planning for Spotify

As the year wraps up, many of your clients may be enjoying their Spotify Wrapped highlights or curating holiday playlists. But what happens to their digital music collection when they’re gone? This month, we take a closer look at Spotify and why it’s worth including in estate planning — plus what we learned from Spotify’s own support team about navigating this grey area.

Why Should Clients Plan Ahead for Spotify?

Spotify is where millions of people store their favourite songs, playlists, and artists. Like a modern-day record collection, it holds personal significance. Without proper planning, playlists could be lost, and Premium subscriptions could continue charging after someone’s passing. Including Spotify in estate plans ensures these accounts are managed according to the client’s wishes, helping avoid unnecessary complications for their loved ones.

What Happens to a Spotify Account When a Client Dies?

When we reached out to Spotify support with a simple question —“What happens to an account when someone dies?” — we were passed between multiple agents. The process was frustrating, with conflicting answers and one surprising suggestion that family members could log in with the deceased’s credentials, a clear violation of Spotify’s own terms of service.

Eventually, we learned that while family members cannot access accounts directly, playlists from Spotify Premium accounts can be transferred to another account. However, this requires submitting a death certificate and proof of subscription in the form of a screenshot from the associated bank account. Spotify doesn’t have a formal policy or streamlined process, leaving families to navigate grey areas that can lead to confusion and delays.

How Can You Help Clients Plan Ahead?

• Document Wishes: Encourage clients to specify whether they want their playlists passed on to loved ones or their account cancelled.
• Gather Documentation: Clients should ensure their family members know the email or username associated with the account, and make them aware of the documents that Spotify will require to transfer their playlists (death certificate and a payment screenshot from the associated bank account).
• Set Expectations: Be upfront about the challenges families may face in accessing their loved ones' playlists, including delays and a lack of clear guidance.

Connect with us to learn how Zenplans can help integrate digital legacy planning into your client proposition and ensure their favourite tunes are thoughtfully preserved for years to come