ISRC Format Explained
A complete guide to understanding the structure and components of an International Standard Recording Code.
ISRC Code Structure
Every ISRC code is exactly 12 characters long and follows the format CCXXXYYNNNNN. When displayed with hyphens for readability, it becomes CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN. The hyphens are optional and not part of the code itself.
US CC Country Code
-
RC1 XXX Registrant
-
76 YY Year
-
07839 NNNNN Designation
Component Breakdown
| Component | Position | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
CC | 1-2 | 2 characters | Country code — ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code identifying the country of the registrant (e.g. US, GB, DE). This indicates where the ISRC was assigned, not necessarily where the recording was made. |
XXX | 3-5 | 3 characters | Registrant code — Alphanumeric code assigned by the national ISRC agency to a specific entity (label, distributor, or artist). Each registrant gets a unique code. |
YY | 6-7 | 2 digits | Year of reference — The last two digits of the year the ISRC was assigned to the recording. For example, 24 represents 2024. |
NNNNN | 8-12 | 5 digits | Designation code — A unique sequential number assigned by the registrant. Each registrant can issue up to 100,000 ISRCs per year (00000-99999). |
How to Read an ISRC Code
Let's decode the example USRC17607839:
US Country code for the United States — this ISRC was assigned by the RIAA RC1 The registrant code — identifies the label or entity that assigned this ISRC 76 Year of reference — this ISRC was assigned in 1976 (or 2076, as only 2 digits are used) 07839 Designation code — the 7,839th recording assigned by this registrant in that year Display Formats
ISRCs can be written in two ways:
- Without hyphens:
USRC17607839— used in databases and metadata - With hyphens:
US-RC1-76-07839— used for display and readability
Both formats are valid. When storing or submitting ISRCs, most systems expect the 12-character version without hyphens. Use our ISRC validator to check either format.
Common Mistakes
- Wrong length — An ISRC must be exactly 12 characters (excluding hyphens). Adding or removing characters makes it invalid.
- Confusing ISRC with UPC/EAN — UPC/EAN codes identify releases (albums/singles), while ISRCs identify individual recordings. They serve different purposes.
- Reusing ISRCs — Each unique recording must have its own ISRC. A remix, remaster, or live version needs a separate ISRC from the original.
- Using invalid country codes — The country code must be a valid ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code. Not all two-letter combinations are valid.
- Mixing up the year — The year component refers to when the ISRC was assigned, not when the recording was made or released.
- Including hyphens in metadata — While hyphens improve readability, most digital systems expect the 12-character format without hyphens.
ISRC Country Codes
The first two characters identify which country's national agency assigned the ISRC. Browse country-specific information: