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ISRC, ISRC Format
ISRC
It is the International Standard Recording Code that identifies an individual song or a specific recording. The code allows the rights-holder (independent artist or record label) to identify and monitor the progress of their published track. The codes are encoded into the sound recordings of the songs themselves.
ISRC codes are required to sell your tracks via online music distributors such as iTunes. They are also required for any songs you plan to offer for streaming on Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, Tidal, etc.
Likewise, you need to have ISRC codes to get your songs to participate in the Billboard charts. Your release must be registered with Nielsen SoundScan using your ISRC codes for the individual tracks. If you do not register, then your sales figures are not counted.
ISRC Format
ISRC code example
ISRC codes are always 12 characters long. For example USHM82226388. This can be divided into 4 sections and the four parts are as follows. US-LFP-20-12345
“US” is the appropriate two-character country code for the ISRC issuer.
“LFP” is a three-character alphanumeric registrant code of the ISRC issuer. This number by itself does NOT uniquely identify the ISRC issuer as the same 3-digit number may be used in various countries for different issuers.
“20” represents the last two digits of the reference year – the year that the ISRC was assigned to the recording. This is not necessarily the date the recording was made.
“12345” is a 5-digit number that identifies the particular sound or video recording, unique within the scope of the reference year.
ISRC Requirement
Remember, it is a Standard ‘Recording’ Code. This means it identifies a particular recording, not the work (composition and lyrical content) itself. Therefore, different recordings, edits, and remixes of the same song should each have its own ISRC.
If you are adding different instrumentation, cutting the vocals, or creating a new mix version of your track, then a new ISRC is required as the Audio is now different. Only one ISRC should be issued to a track, and an ISRC can never represent more than one unique recording.
You do not need a new ISRC code if you are only converting the song’s bit rate or format. (Example, from 48 kHz to 44.1 kHz, WAV to mp3).
According to the ISRC Manual, a new ISRC must be issued when:
A sound recording is re-mixed or edited.
If a new fade changes the length of a track by more than 10 seconds.
Edits that change the length of a sound recording by more than 10 seconds (playing time is measured from the first recorded modulation to the last recorded modulation).
A previously released sound recording is partially used as part of a compilation.
A “full restoration” of a historical recording is performed by re-mastering, re-pitching, re-equalizing, de-noising or de-clicking a sound recording to meet contemporary quality standards. The registrant of the recording has discretion when determining full re-mastering (sound restoration) and simple re-mastering (reproduction without sound restoration).
Do I need ISRC Codes for Cover Songs?
Yes, definitely! Your cover is a different performance from the original version. Therefore the Audio is different. Hence, a cover song requires its own ISRC just like any other song. Suppose you purchase a Karaoke track of a famous song online and record your vocal version. That requires a unique ISRC as well.
Just remember this rule,
Any considerable change in the Sonic Component of the Audio? If the answer is YES, then a unique ISRC is required. If the answer is NO, you have to use the same ISRC.
How Do You Get ISRC Codes?
Contact your national ISRC agency or the IFPI – the international ISRC agency.
If you do not have a national ISRC agency in your country, contact the IFPI directly. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
via ISRC website: https://www.isrc.com/index.html
If you are distributing your Audio via Digital Distributors such as CD Baby, TuneCore, Distrokid, etc., they can get ISRC codes for your tracks.
Do Mastering Engineers add ISRC to your track?
In the Past, Mastering Engineers used to add the Title, Metadata & ISRC codes to the Audio Track before burning them into a Master CD. Nowadays, with Digital Streaming and Downloads, this task has been taken over by Digital Music Distributors.
ISRC Code finder
Here are some websites which show the ISRC Codes of commercially available songs. https://www.isrcfinder.com/ https://isrcsearch.ifpi.org/#!/search
ISRC & UPC
You need ISRC codes for each track of your album. However, the album itself requires a UPC. A UPC barcode (or Universal Product Code) represents and tracks your music as an entire physical or digital product. It is a code used at an Album level (Single Track or Multiple Tracks + Cover Art). Even if the same track (the same Audio) appears on multiple albums, remember to use the same ISRC code for that particular track as the Audio is the same. A new ISRC is required only if ANYTHING about the Audio changes (Track length, Title, Adding / Removal of Instruments, Adding Vocals, Too many sonic changes in the Mix).
Can I release a song without an ISRC?
If you are only releasing your track on Bandcamp or Soundcloud or adding a Video and uploading it to YouTube, then you can release your track without having an ISRC. These platforms will not automatically assign an ISRC to your track since anyone can upload their sounds and videos to these public platforms and streams are not necessarily monetized as the revenue is generated via Ads.
However, if you are intending to release your track on Spotify, Apple Music, or Deezer etc, an ISRC is compulsory. Usually, your Distributor will automatically assign an ISRC to your track.
ISRC, ISRC Format
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