Manage Tunecore

How to cancel tunecore and take control of your music distribution

Understanding tunecore and when to cancel

Tunecore is a digital music distribution platform that allows independent artists and labels to upload, distribute and monetize music across 150+ streaming services and online stores worldwide. The service provides dashboard analytics, release management tools and optional subscription plans (Rising Artist, Breakout Artist, and Professional) alongside pay-per-release options for individual singles and albums.

You might be considering cancellation for several reasons: you've moved to a different distributor, your music goals have changed, or you want to stop recurring charges. Whatever your reason, Stopee understands that navigating cancellation with music platforms can feel confusing. The good news is that cancelling Tunecore is straightforward once you know which method applies to your situation.

Why artists choose to cancel tunecore

Some artists cancel because they prefer the features or pricing of competing distributors like DistroKid or CD Baby. Others stop when they're taking a break from releasing music. Many simply want to consolidate their distribution through a single platform rather than managing multiple services. Whatever your reason, you have the right to cancel whenever you choose.

What you need to know before cancelling

Before you proceed, understand the key difference between cancelling a single release and cancelling an Unlimited subscription plan. Cancelling a release stops future automatic renewals and can trigger takedown from stores, but the process takes time (2 to 3 business days to several weeks depending on the store). Cancelling an Unlimited plan ends your subscription at the end of your current billing period, after which your releases will eventually be removed unless you maintain a valid payment method.

Tunecore pricing and plans at a glance

Here's what you're currently paying with Tunecore in Canada.

Many artists don't realise they're enrolled in automatic renewal. If you signed up years ago, you're likely being charged on the anniversary of your original purchase date each year. Stopping these charges requires action on your part.

Your consumer rights when cancelling tunecore

Canadian consumer protection law gives you important rights when dealing with subscription services and digital purchases.

Federal and provincial protections in canada

Under the Consumer Protection Act in most Canadian provinces, you have the right to cancel a subscription and receive a refund if you cancel within 14 days of purchase (or sometimes within 30 days, depending on your province). However, Tunecore's terms state "all sales are final," which they argue overrides refund eligibility for renewals that occur after your initial purchase window.

The key legal distinction is this: if Tunecore automatically renewed your subscription without clear advance notice and explicit consent, you may have grounds to dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company under consumer protection rules. If you paid through Apple App Store or Google Play, those platforms also have their own consumer protection periods (typically 14 days for refunds).

Pro tip: If Tunecore refuses your refund request, contact your provincial consumer protection office or Canada's Competition Bureau. Stopee recommends documenting all communication with Tunecore before escalating.

What the law says about automatic renewals

Most Canadian provinces require that companies obtain your "express informed consent" before charging you for automatic renewals. This means Tunecore must have clearly told you that charges would recur, shown you the renewal amount and date, and required you to actively agree. If they didn't meet these standards, you have a stronger case for a refund or chargeback.

How to cancel your tunecore account or release

Your cancellation steps depend on what you're cancelling: an Unlimited subscription plan, a pay-per-release, or a subscription purchased through Apple or Google.

Cancelling an unlimited subscription plan via the tunecore dashboard

If you subscribe to Rising Artist, Breakout Artist, or Professional, follow these steps to cancel.

1. Visit tunecore.com and log in to your account with your email and password.
   • If you've forgotten your password, click "Forgot Password" and reset it via email.
2. Navigate to Account Settings in the left-hand menu or dashboard.
   • Look for a "Subscriptions" or "Billing" tab within Account Settings.
3. Locate your active subscription plan in the list.
   • You'll see the plan name (Rising Artist, Breakout Artist, or Professional) and the next renewal date.
4. Click the "Cancel Subscription" button next to your plan.
   • Tunecore may show a confirmation message asking why you're cancelling. You can skip this or answer for their feedback.
5. Confirm your cancellation when Tunecore asks you to verify.
   • This is critical: do not accidentally click "Resume" or "Keep Subscription" if a retention offer appears.
6. Look for a confirmation message stating your subscription has been cancelled.
   • Screenshot or save this confirmation. You'll need proof if there are billing disputes.

Important: Cancelling your Unlimited plan ends the subscription at the end of your current billing period. Your releases will stay live until the plan expires. After that, if you don't have a valid payment method on file, Tunecore will begin sending reminder emails every 7 days for 35 days. If no payment is made after approximately 42 days, your account may be downgraded and releases removed from stores.

Cancelling a single pay-per-release before renewal

If you use Tunecore's pay-per-release model instead of an Unlimited plan, you can cancel the automatic renewal of individual releases.

1. Log in to your Tunecore dashboard.
2. Go to Manage Releases or your Releases list.
3. Find the release you want to stop renewing.
   • It will show the original release date and the next renewal date.
4. Click on the release to open its details.
5. Select "Cancel Renewal" (stops future charges but keeps the release live) or "Takedown All Stores" (removes the release immediately).
   • "Cancel Renewal" is safer if you're unsure; it prevents the next charge.
   • "Takedown All Stores" removes your music from all platforms within 2 to 3 business days to several weeks.
6. Confirm your choice.
   • Save a record of which action you chose and when.

Warning: If the renewal date is within the next few days, you must act immediately to avoid the charge. Tunecore processes cancellations during business hours, and delays can result in unexpected charges.

Cancelling if you purchased through apple app store or google play

If you signed up for Tunecore's subscription through Apple or Google's app marketplaces, your cancellation happens outside the Tunecore dashboard.

1. For Apple App Store: Open the App Store app, go to your account profile, select "Subscriptions," find Tunecore, and tap "Cancel Subscription."
   • Your subscription ends at the end of the current billing period.
   • You can request a refund within 14 days of the charge if you believe it was unauthorized or misleading.
2. For Google Play: Open Google Play, tap your profile icon, go to "Payments and subscriptions," select "Subscriptions," find Tunecore, and tap "Cancel subscription."
   • Your subscription ends at the current period's end.
   • Google typically allows refunds within 48 hours of purchase if the app didn't work as described.
3. After cancelling via Apple or Google, log into the Tunecore website and verify that your subscription no longer shows as active.
   • If it still appears active on the Tunecore side, contact Tunecore support to sync the cancellation.

Pro tip: App Store and Google Play cancellations often sync with Tunecore within a few hours, but not immediately. If you cancel on Monday evening, your Tunecore account may still show the subscription as active until Tuesday. Wait 24 hours, then check again.

What happens after you cancel tunecore

Cancelling doesn't instantly vanish your music from the internet, and it doesn't mean you've lost everything you've built.

Timeline for your releases after cancellation

If you cancelled an Unlimited plan, your releases remain live until the end of your paid billing period. Once that period ends and you haven't renewed:

• Tunecore sends reminder emails every 7 days for up to 35 days.
• Approximately 42 days after the subscription expiration, your account may be downgraded.
• Your releases will then be removed from all stores within 2 to 3 business days to several weeks, depending on the retailer.
• Streaming revenue continues to flow to your account even after takedown; you can still collect royalties earned before removal.

If you selected "Takedown All Stores" for individual releases, removal takes 2 to 3 business days for some stores and up to several weeks for others (especially Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, which have longer processing windows).

Can you re-upload your music later?

Yes. If you cancel Tunecore but later want to distribute again, you can upload the same music to any other distributor or back to Tunecore. There's no penalty for doing this. Your ISRCs (International Standard Recording Codes) and artwork remain yours. Many artists use this flexibility to test different platforms or switch distributors.

What about your streaming stats and royalties?

Your historical data (plays, downloads, revenue) remains tied to your Tunecore account even after cancellation. If you ever need to reference your earnings or prove your release history, you can log back in to view reports. However, once your releases are taken down, new streams and sales stop-only old royalties are collected.

Refunds and chargebacks with tunecore

Tunecore's official policy is "all sales are final," but this doesn't mean you have zero options if a charge seems unfair.

When you might qualify for a refund

You have the strongest refund case if:

• You cancelled within 14 days of an initial purchase (covered by the federal Consumer Protection Act and most provincial laws).
• Tunecore charged you after you cancelled, showing the cancellation didn't process correctly.
• You were charged without advance notice or clear consent for automatic renewal (violation of consumer protection rules).
• You bought through Apple or Google and haven't used the service; both platforms offer 14-day refund windows.

Tunecore does offer refunds for physical product returns (CDs, vinyl) within 14 days of delivery if you request in writing, but these are subject to inspection and their discretion.

How to request a refund directly from tunecore

If you believe you qualify, contact Tunecore's support team with:

• Your account email and username.
• The charge date and amount.
• A clear explanation of why you think the charge was unfair (e.g., "I cancelled on [date] but was charged on [date]").
• Screenshots of your cancellation confirmation or the charge on your bank statement.

Email support typically responds within 3 to 5 business days. Stopee recommends being specific and professional; emotional appeals rarely work, but documented proof of cancellation does.

Chargeback as a last resort

If Tunecore refuses your refund request and you believe the charge violates consumer protection law, you can dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company. This is called a chargeback. Your bank will review the evidence and typically resolve the dispute within 30 to 60 days. However, chargebacks can strain your relationship with Tunecore and may result in account suspension, so use this option only if Tunecore has genuinely refused a legitimate refund.

Pro tip: Before filing a chargeback, send one final email to Tunecore referencing Canada's consumer protection laws and stating you will pursue a chargeback if they don't respond within 7 days. Sometimes this prompts action. Stopee has seen many disputes resolved this way without escalation to the bank.

Common cancellation mistakes to avoid

It's easy to feel frustrated when navigating cancellation, and small missteps can cost you money or leave your music stranded online longer than necessary.

Mistake 1: confusing "Cancel renewal" with "Takedown all stores"

Many artists cancel renewal thinking their music will vanish immediately, then panic when they see it still streaming weeks later. "Cancel Renewal" stops future charges but leaves your music live. "Takedown All Stores" removes it from retailers but takes weeks. Choose carefully based on your actual goal.

Mistake 2: cancelling the unlimited plan but forgetting individual releases

If you subscribed to an Unlimited plan, you might also have uploaded individual pay-per-release items. Cancelling the Unlimited plan doesn't cancel those releases. You must go to your Releases list and handle each one separately, or they'll continue renewing and charging you annually.

Mistake 3: not checking your confirmation

Tunecore's dashboard sometimes shows a cancellation button even after you've already cancelled. Click it once, wait for the confirmation page, and screenshot it immediately. If you click repeatedly thinking nothing happened, you might accidentally reactivate your subscription or trigger duplicate requests.

Mistake 4: assuming the charge stopped once you cancelled

Your Unlimited subscription renews on the anniversary of your original sign-up date. If you signed up on March 15, 2023, you're charged every March 15. Cancelling in April means you won't be charged in the following March. But if you cancel on March 20 and were already charged on March 15, that charge is done. The cancellation only prevents the next year's renewal.

Mistake 5: cancelling via email instead of the dashboard

Tunecore strongly prefers dashboard cancellations because they're instant and create an audit trail. If you email support asking to cancel, response times vary (3 to 5 business days), and there's a higher risk of miscommunication. Always use the dashboard first.

Cancellation checklist for tunecore

Before you take action, run through this list to ensure a smooth cancellation.

Should you cancel or stay with tunecore?

Cancellation isn't the only path forward, and it's worth briefly considering whether you should stay.

When to keep your tunecore account

You might want to stay if you regularly release new music, are happy with the distribution to 150+ stores, and the annual fee (C$28.99 to C$63.99 for Unlimited) fits your budget. Tunecore's dashboard is straightforward, and royalty payouts are reliable. If you've already built a release history there and plan to keep distributing, the switching costs may not be worth it.

When to cancel

Cancel if you're not actively releasing, prefer another distributor's features (better analytics, merchandising tools, or pricing), or want to consolidate your distribution to reduce subscriptions. Many independent artists move to DistroKid or CD Baby for faster payouts or more transparent pricing. If you're not using Tunecore and don't plan to, cancelling within the next 7 to 10 days prevents another annual renewal charge.

Key takeaways and next steps

Cancelling Tunecore is a straightforward process, but the timing and method matter. Whether you're cancelling an Unlimited subscription, a pay-per-release, or a purchase through Apple or Google, the steps are clear: log in, find your subscription or release, click cancel, and save your confirmation.

Remember that cancelling your subscription doesn't instantly remove your music from stores; that process takes 2 to 3 business days to several weeks depending on the retailer. If you want an immediate refund and believe you qualify under Canada's consumer protection laws, gather your evidence and contact Tunecore or your bank within 14 days of the charge.

Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions with confidence and clarity. If you encounter resistance from Tunecore or believe your refund request is being unfairly denied, escalate to your provincial consumer protection office or Canada's Competition Bureau. Your rights as a consumer are protected, and you don't have to accept unfair charges.

Take action today, save your confirmation, and regain control of your music distribution. Stopee is here to help you navigate every step of the cancellation process and ensure you're treated fairly.