Glossary · Technical
ISRC
An ISRC, International Standard Recording Code, is a 12-character identifier assigned to a specific sound recording. It never changes, follows the recording across every platform, and is how streaming services and SoundExchange match usage to a track.
An ISRC identifies one recording. Twelve characters, structured as a two-character country code, a three-character registrant code, a two-digit year of reference, and a five-digit designation code — for example US-ABC-26-12345, usually written without the hyphens. The system is administered internationally by IFPI, and in the United States the national agency is the RIAA, which issues registrant codes at usisrc.org.
The rule that trips people is scope. Every distinct recording gets its own ISRC — the studio version, the radio edit, the live version, the remix, the instrumental. Remastering a track generally warrants a new one. What does not change is the code on an existing recording: an ISRC is assigned once and stays with that master forever, across every distributor, every store and every re-release.
Your distributor will assign ISRCs automatically if you do not supply them. DistroKid, TuneCore and CD Baby all do this. You can instead obtain your own registrant code from the RIAA and issue your own, which is worth doing if you release frequently or want your codes under your own control rather than tied to a distributor.
ISRCs are how the recording side gets paid. SoundExchange matches usage reports to recordings by identifier. Streaming services report by ISRC. The MLC uses ISRCs to link reported recordings back to the composition they embody, which is why putting your ISRCs into your MLC work registrations improves matching.
The misunderstanding: assigning a new ISRC when re-uploading the same recording through a new distributor. That splits your history and breaks the chain that royalties follow. Carry the original code across.
I keep a spreadsheet of every ISRC I have ever been issued. Do the same — not legal advice, just experience.
Related terms
- ISWCAn ISWC, International Standard Musical Work Code, is a unique identifier for a musical composition, formatted as T followed by…
- UPCA UPC, Universal Product Code, is the 12-digit barcode number identifying a music release as a product — a single, EP or album —…
- Sound recordingA sound recording is the fixed capture of a performance — the master — protected as its own copyright separate from the…
- SoundExchangeSoundExchange is the United States organisation designated to collect and distribute the digital performance royalty on sound…
Answers that use this term
- ISRC vs ISWC: The Two Codes Your Song NeedsAn ISRC identifies a specific sound recording and is issued when you distribute — DistroKid, TuneCore and CD Baby assign one…
- How to Register With The MLC (Step by Step)Registering with The MLC is free. Create a member account at themlc.com, choose Self-Administered Songwriter if you control your…
- How to Register With SoundExchange (Step by Step)SoundExchange registration is free — its own wording is "Registering is free, simple, and fast." Create an account at…
- How to Fill Out a Split Sheet (With Every Field Explained)A split sheet records one song's writing shares in writing before anyone leaves the session.
Definitions on this site describe the United States system. I am an artist who has been through this, not a lawyer.
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