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How to Use TuneCore (with Payoneer) — A Step-by-Step Guide for Artists


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What you’ll do in this guide

  1. Open a free TuneCore account

  2. Open a Payoneer account to receive TuneCore royalties

  3. Connect Payoneer inside TuneCore + submit your tax form

  4. Upload your song to TuneCore and send it to stores (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.)

Written for beginners. If you can send an email, you can do this.

Before You Start (5–10 minutes)

Have these ready:

  • A working email address you can log into (you’ll confirm it).

  • A mobile phone for security codes.

  • A clear photo/scan of a government ID (passport, driver’s license, or national ID) for Payoneer verification. Front and back if applicable. (payoneer.custhelp.com)

  • Your home address and date of birth (for verification).

  • A bank account in your name (you’ll add it in Payoneer so you can withdraw).

  • Your audio file (WAV is best, 16-bit/44.1 kHz) and cover art (square image; 3000×3000 px recommended; JPG/PNG; RGB color). (tunecore.com)

Tip: Put these files in a folder on your computer named “Single – Song Title” to stay organized.

Part 1 — Create Your TuneCore Account (2–4 minutes)

  1. Go to TuneCore.com and click Sign Up (top right).

  2. Enter your name, country, email, and a password, then click Create my free account.

  3. Open your email and confirm your new account if asked. (support.tunecore.com)

You now have a TuneCore account. Next, set up how you’ll get paid.


Part 2 — Open Your Payoneer Account (for Royalties) (5–10 minutes + verification time)

You’ll connect Payoneer from inside TuneCore the first time you withdraw, but it helps to know what happens:

What Payoneer asks for (typical):

  • Government-issued ID, proof of address, and sometimes a bank document to verify you. Upload clear color images; make sure the ID is not expired. (payoneer.custhelp.com)

Important: Name on Payoneer must match your legal ID and bank account to avoid delays.

Part 3 — Connect Payoneer Inside TuneCore + Submit Your Tax Form

  1. In TuneCore, go to Money / Balance (or Balance History).

  2. Click Withdraw Money. A Payoneer window opens.

  3. Choose Sign Up (new to Payoneer) or Sign In (already have Payoneer).

  4. Follow the prompts to complete your Payoneer profile and link your payout method (bank transfer, PayPal, or prepaid Mastercard options via Payoneer, availability varies by region). (support.tunecore.com)

Submit your tax form (U.S. and non-U.S. artists)

After Payoneer approves your account:

  1. Log in to Payoneer → Activity → Tax Form → look for Pending → Submit.

    • U.S. persons typically complete Form W-9.

    • Non-U.S. persons typically complete Form W-8BEN (individual) or W-8BEN-E (company).Completing the correct form helps prevent extra U.S. withholding. (support.tunecore.com)

Notes on taxes (quick heads-up, not tax advice):• TuneCore routes tax collection via Payoneer; U.S. persons usually submit W-9 through Payoneer. Missing tax info can trigger backup withholding. (support.tunecore.com)• Non-U.S. persons usually submit W-8BEN to claim treaty benefits (if any) and reduce default withholding. (Investopedia)


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Part 4 — Upload Your Song to TuneCore and Send to Stores


A) Prepare your files

  • Audio: WAV (preferred). Safe spec: 16-bit, 44.1 kHz, stereo (FLAC also accepted). (tunecore.com)

  • Cover art: Square, recommended 3000×3000 px, JPG/PNG, RGB, under 10 MB. Keep text limited to artist name and title exactly as you enter them in TuneCore. (support.tunecore.com)


B) Start a new release

  1. In TuneCore, click Create a new release (Single/EP/Album).

  2. Enter Release Title and Primary Artist exactly as you want them to appear on stores.

  3. For each track, enter song title, songwriter(s), contributors, and any ISRC (or let TuneCore assign one). Click Save.

  4. Click Upload next to your track to add the audio file.

  5. Click Artwork to upload your cover image. (support.tunecore.com)


C) Choose stores & release date

  1. Select the stores/streaming platforms you want (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.).

  2. Choose a release date (give yourself at least 2–3 weeks lead time so stores have time to process and you can pitch to playlists).

  3. Review territories, pricing (if applicable), and any extras (e.g., social platforms, YouTube monetization). (tunecore.com)


D) Final checks & submit

  1. Run a final spell-check on artist name, song title(s), capitalization, and featured artists.

  2. Confirm explicit/clean flags, language, and copyright info.

  3. Click Submit (or Send to Distribution). TuneCore will process and deliver to stores.

Where to see sales later: TuneCore → Money & Analytics → Sales Reports. (Store reports arrive on their own schedules.) (support.tunecore.com)


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Getting Paid

  • As your streams/sales are reported by stores, your TuneCore balance grows.

  • When you’re ready, go to Balance / Withdraw Money to send funds to Payoneer, then on to your bank (or other Payoneer method available to you). (support.tunecore.com)


Troubleshooting & Common Questions

“My cover art keeps getting rejected.”Check it’s a perfect square, 1600–3000 px, JPG/PNG/GIF, RGB, under 10 MB, and that the text exactly matches your metadata (artist + title). Avoid logos you don’t own, URLs, or extra text. (support.tunecore.com)

“What audio format is safest?”Upload WAV, 16-bit/44.1 kHz, stereo (or FLAC). That spec is widely accepted everywhere. (tunecore.com)

“Payoneer asked for more documents—normal?”Yes. They commonly ask for ID, proof of address, and sometimes a bank verification document. Submit clear color images. (payoneer.custhelp.com)

“Do I really need the tax form?”Yes. U.S. persons submit a W-9; non-U.S. persons submit W-8BEN/W-8BEN-E to avoid unnecessary withholding. You submit it inside Payoneer (Activity → Tax Form). (support.tunecore.com)


Ultra-Simple Checklists (print or save)

TuneCore account (first time)

  • ☐ Email + password created

  • ☐ Email confirmed

Payoneer setup

  • ☐ ID image ready (and not expired)

  • ☐ Proof of address (utility bill/bank statement)

  • ☐ Bank account in your name

  • ☐ Submitted tax form (W-9 or W-8)

Release prep

  • ☐ WAV 16-bit/44.1 kHz

  • ☐ 3000×3000 JPG/PNG (RGB)

  • ☐ Songwriters & contributors spelled correctly

  • ☐ Release date at least 2–3 weeks out

Send to stores

  • ☐ Stores selected

  • ☐ Territories confirmed

  • ☐ Explicit/clean marked correctly

  • ☐ Submit / Send to Distribution


Gentle Tips for Non-Tech Users

  • Write it down: Keep a small notebook with your TuneCore email, Payoneer email, and a password hint (not the password itself).

  • One name everywhere: Use the same legal name for Payoneer and your bank. Use your artist name consistently in TuneCore.

  • Zoom in: If text on the screen feels small, press Ctrl + “+” (Windows) or Cmd + “+” (Mac) to zoom.

  • One step at a time: Finish Part 1, then take a break; do Part 2, and so on.

  • Ask for help: If something doesn’t look right, contact TuneCore Support or Payoneer Support—they handle this every day. (support.tunecore.com)


Sources & References

  • TuneCore Help: Create account, create a release, upload audio, cover art, withdrawing money, sales reports, taxes, and Payoneer connection. (support.tunecore.com)

  • Payoneer Help: Document verification and tax forms (W-9/W-8 series). (payoneer.custhelp.com)

  • TuneCore Guides: File specs and release-planning recommendations. (tunecore.com)

 
 
 

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