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ISRC Codes Explained: What They Are and How to Get One

Every song you release needs an ISRC code. It is a unique 12-character identifier for one specific recording, and it is how platforms, radio monitors, and collection societies track plays and pay royalties. Without it, your music has no reliable identity in the system that moves money to artists.

How an ISRC is structured

An ISRC has four parts: a two-letter country code showing where the code was issued, a three-character registrant code identifying the label or distributor, a two-digit year of reference, and a five-digit designation code that makes the track unique. An example looks like US-AAA-23-00001. Every ISRC is different, so no two recordings share one.

One code per recording, not per song

An ISRC identifies a specific recording, not the song as a composition. A remix, a radio edit, a live version, and an acoustic version are each different recordings, so each needs its own ISRC. A remaster, on the other hand, does not create a new recording, so the original ISRC stays with it. Three different recordings of the same song share one composition identifier but carry three separate ISRCs.

How to get ISRCs

The easiest route is your distributor. Almost all distributors assign ISRCs automatically and free when you upload a release. You can also register directly with your country's national ISRC agency to get your own registrant code, which suits labels and artists who release a lot and want codes under their own prefix. Direct registration involves a fee, so check your agency's current pricing. Never pay an unrelated third-party website inflated prices for ISRCs when your distributor provides them at no cost.

Rules that protect your catalogue

• Never reuse an ISRC. Reused codes send plays and royalties to the wrong recording, and untangling the data later is slow.
• Keep the same ISRC when switching distributors. Reusing your codes preserves streams, saves, and playlist placements.
• Save your codes. Keep a spreadsheet of every ISRC, track title, and version so you always know which code belongs to which recording.

Think of an ISRC as your recording's permanent ID. Treat it with the same care you give your masters.

If you are unsure whether a version needs a new code, ask your distributor before uploading. It is far easier to confirm the rule for a remix or a re-recording in advance than to fix a misassigned code after the release is live and already collecting plays.

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