If you’re a musician, producer, or label owner, you’ve likely come across the term “ISRC” at some point. An ISRC, or International Standard Recording Code, is a unique identifier assigned to individual sound recordings. Think of it like a license plate number for your music.
What Are They For?
ISRCs are used to track and identify sound recordings, which is important for a variety of reasons. They help ensure that artists and rights holders get paid for their music, allow for accurate tracking of airplay and sales, and make it easier to identify and organize recordings.
Each ISRC is a 12-character code that uniquely identifies a sound recording. The first two characters represent the country where the code was assigned, the next three characters identify the registrant (usually the record label), and the remaining seven characters are assigned by the registrant and represent the specific recording.
How are ISRC’s Assigned?
ISRCs are assigned by national ISRC agencies, which are designated by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). In the United States, the agency responsible for assigning ISRCs is the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
If you’re a musician or label owner, it’s important to obtain an ISRC for each of your recordings. This can typically be done through a digital music distributor (like Label Engine) or directly through the national ISRC agency in your country.
