Music Knowledge
What Is an ISRC Code?
ISRC codes explained: the International Standard Recording Code, how to get one, where it goes in your metadata, and why it prevents duplicate releases and lost royalties.
ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is the universal identifier for an individual sound recording. Like a fingerprint or a barcode for a track, it lets every platform, distributor and collection society know exactly which recording they are dealing with.
How an ISRC is structured
An ISRC is 12 characters: a two-letter country code, a three-character registrant code, a two-digit year of reference, and a five-digit designation number — for example ISRC INZAV2400011.
The registrant portion is unique to the rights owner. This means your ISRCs stay with your catalog even if you change distributors.
Why ISRC matters
Platforms use ISRCs to match your releases, track streams and pay royalties. A missing or duplicated ISRC can split your streaming numbers across multiple pages and confuse royalty reporting.
If you re-release the same recording on a new album, keep the same ISRC so historical streams and data are preserved. New recordings always need new ISRCs.
Getting ISRCs
ISRCs are issued by registered national agencies or through your distributor. Zaventra Music Group assigns ISRCs to every release and registers them so your catalog is always correctly identified.
You can also generate your own if you are registered as an ISRC registrant, but most artists simply receive them through their distributor.
Key Points
- Unique ID for a sound recording
- 12-character international standard
- Survives distribution switches
- Prevents duplicate release pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ISRC the same as a UPC?
No. ISRC identifies one recording; a UPC barcode identifies a release (an album or single product). A single release can contain multiple ISRCs but has one UPC.
Can I reuse an ISRC?
Only for the exact same recording. Any remix, new version or different master needs a new ISRC. Reusing one incorrectly can corrupt royalty data.
Do I need ISRC for physical releases?
ISRCs are embedded in the digital metadata and used by streaming platforms and broadcasters. Physical formats don't display them, but including them still helps if your music is digitised.