ISRC stands for International Standard Recording Code. It is a unique 12-character identifier assigned to each individual sound recording (track). Think of it as a fingerprint for a specific recording.
ISRC Format
An ISRC follows the format: CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN
- CC: Country code (2 characters)
- XXX: Registrant code (3 characters)
- YY: Year of reference (2 digits)
- NNNNN: Designation code (5 digits)
Example: US-AB1-23-00001
ISRC vs UPC
A common point of confusion: ISRC identifies a single recording (track), while UPC identifies a release/product (single, EP, or album). One album has one UPC but multiple ISRCs, one for each track.
- ISRC → Track / Recording
- UPC → Release / Product
Why ISRC Matters
ISRCs enable royalty tracking across platforms. When a streaming service reports plays to royalty collection societies, they use the ISRC to identify exactly which recording was played. Without a correct ISRC, your plays may not be properly attributed to you.
Do I Need an ISRC?
Every track distributed to digital platforms requires an ISRC. If you already have one assigned from a previous release or registrar, use that same code. If you don't have one, we can arrange ISRC assignment as part of your distribution package.
Important Rules
- Each unique recording gets its own ISRC. Never reuse an ISRC for a different recording
- A remix or remaster of the same song gets a new ISRC (it is a different recording)
- If the same recording appears on multiple releases (single + album), it keeps the same ISRC
- ISRCs are permanent. Once assigned, they never change
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