ISRC Frequently Asked Questions

An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a unique 12-character identifier assigned to individual sound recordings and music videos. It acts as a digital fingerprint for a specific recording, enabling accurate tracking of plays, royalties, and rights across streaming platforms and broadcast systems worldwide. Learn more about the ISRC format.

There are two main ways to get an ISRC: 1) Apply directly through your country's national ISRC agency (such as the RIAA in the US or PPL in the UK) to receive a registrant code, which allows you to assign your own ISRCs. 2) Use a digital distributor like DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby, which will automatically assign ISRCs to your tracks when you upload them for distribution.

No, they serve different purposes. An ISRC identifies a specific recording (a single track), while a UPC (Universal Product Code) or EAN identifies a product or release (an album, EP, or single as a package). A single album with 10 tracks would have one UPC/EAN for the album and 10 individual ISRCs, one for each track.

An ISRC is exactly 12 characters long when written without hyphens (e.g. USRC17607839). When displayed with hyphens for readability, it becomes 15 characters (e.g. US-RC1-76-07839). The hyphens are optional formatting and not part of the actual code. See the full ISRC format breakdown.

No, each unique recording must have its own ISRC. If the same song is remixed, remastered, or re-recorded, the new version needs a new ISRC because it is a different recording. However, the same recording released on multiple albums or platforms should keep the same ISRC throughout.

Yes, every individual sound recording or music video intended for commercial distribution should have a unique ISRC. This includes each track on an album, each version of a single (radio edit, extended mix, etc.), and music videos. ISRCs are required by most digital distributors and streaming platforms for proper royalty tracking.

You can find your ISRC codes in several places: 1) Your digital distributor's dashboard (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, etc.) typically shows the ISRC for each track. 2) On Spotify, the ISRC is listed in the song details (right-click a track and select "Show Credits"). 3) Streaming platforms like Apple Music and Tidal also include ISRC information in track metadata. Use our ISRC validator to verify any code you find.

The cost of obtaining ISRCs varies by country. In some countries, national agencies provide ISRCs for free once you have a registrant code. In other countries, there may be a small fee for the registrant code application. If you use a digital distributor, ISRCs are typically included as part of their distribution service at no additional charge.

ISRC codes are assigned through a hierarchical system. The IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) oversees the global ISRC system and appoints national agencies in each country. These national agencies (like the RIAA in the US, PPL in the UK, or BVMI in Germany) assign registrant codes to labels, artists, and distributors, who then assign individual ISRCs to their recordings.

Using an incorrect ISRC can cause serious problems: royalties may be directed to the wrong rights holder, play counts may not be properly tracked, and your recording may be confused with another. If you discover an incorrect ISRC, contact your distributor immediately to correct it. Duplicate ISRCs (the same code assigned to different recordings) can result in merged play counts and misdirected payments.