International
Standard Recording Code
ISRC
codes help you to be sure your royalties are tracked properly
(particularly important for iTunes). Having
your own ISRC code is simpler than having a company assign one to
you. The code is just a non-government "serial number" to
identify your songs.
Each ISRC is a unique
and permanent
identifier for a specific recording. It's assigned PER
SONG VERSION, not per CD.
• The main purpose for
having an ISRC code on your CDR master is for documentation purposes.
It's just easier for you (or your record company) to keep track
of.
Apply
for your own ISRC code. A $75 one-time fee
is
required to receive your master (or "company") ISRC code.
After your
application is processed and you've received your main code
from ISRC, you need to create
a specific ISRC code for each song, then send the codes
to us when you book your session.
These
codes are not difficult and the earlier you get them (even before the
mastering phase) the better.
The most common
misunderstanding about ISRC codes:
ISRC codes
are not "embedded" into the actual audio files on your mastered CDR.
(Mastered CDR's are also called PMCD's -- "Pre Mastered CD" -- which
was a Sonic Solutions format.) ISRC codes do NOT work the same way
you can input text (song name, artist name, genre, etc.) info songs on
iTunes.
An
excellent reason to have us put your ISRC codes on your master is to
make it easy to keep track of the songs and their corresponding
numbers. The documentation we give you lists the songs and the codes so
it's easy to recall the numbers and utilize them when you sign up for
digital distribution (like iTunes, CD Baby, Rapsody).
If you sign up for CD Baby (for example) there will be a webpage where
you are asked to TYPE IN your ISRC codes. Your mastered CDR
does not do that for you automatically. Software is required to extract
ISRC codes off the CDR Master we give you.
Want to sign onto
iTunes the same way the big labels do? Go HERE to TuneCore.
There. I gave away the secret!
We
do not
recommend having the CD manufacturing plant embed the codes
at the time of pressing. Give us your ISRC codes for your songs
and we will embed them into your masters.
If you have mastered
your own CD, but you do not have ISRC codes
embedded on your master, we can do this for you for a nominal
charge.... but it won't make "all the difference" for getting your
music digitally distributed! Companies like CD Baby want you to have
codes, but they do not require these codes to be ON the CD's you
manufacture. In fact, there is a page where you must manually type in
the codes for CD Baby.
Remember
a
recording is different than a song - the ISRC code belongs
to the specific recording of each song. Remixes, singles or soundtracks
that differ in any way from a specific recording should have a separate
code number. It's easy! And did we mention, do it now?
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•
You will get your codes from the RIAA by email or fax.
It will be a simple
set of letters/numbers similar to this:
US JVM
The US is the country
- the 3 letters/numbers are "you"
You
make up the rest of the code
The rest of the code will consist of: two numbers (like 09) for the year,
and five numbers after that (00001) for the song.
Final code song 1 = USJVM0900001
Final code song 2 = USJVM0900002
Final code song 3 = USJVM0900003
etc.
You only apply ONCE for a code in your country. Your code stays
with you forever! You as an artist, record company, production
entity, etc. keep your code (the US-JVM in the above example) and
simply change the year
identifier each new year. Then you just pick how you want to
continue the sequence of designation
numbers for any songs under your control. If you released 32
songs in 2006, you can start the next year with the designation number
at 00033 or 00001 if you wish.
NOTE!
• This is really easy,
but you
are
responsible to record, store and maintain written or filed records
of
the code(s) that the RIAA gives you!
• You are responsible
to know which
songs/pieces of music you assign your individual codes to,
as well as
the sequence on any album or song collection you release!
• File or keep
your codes in a secure place in case you ever need to refer back
to
them
(for instance if a digital download company or other person
requests your information).
Remember - do it
now!
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How
to
Construct an ISRC
The
ISRC consists of 4 segments:
COUNTRY CODE: The country where the registrant applies for a Registrant
Code (2 characters).
REGISTRANT CODE: Portion allocated to the Registrant by a National
Agency (3 alphanumeric characters).
YEAR OF REFERENCE: The 2-digit year in which the ISRC was assigned to
the recording.
DESIGNATION CODE: The code assigned to the sound recording by the
registrant. This code may not be repeated within the same calendar year
(5 digits).
Example: ISRC US-S1Z-09-00001
An ISRC is constructed using these four distinct segments:
1: Country
US - The first two-character segment is determined by the registration
authority to which you apply. This will remain constant regardless of
the territory in which your recordings are distributed.
2: Registrant
US-_ _ _ - These three characters are uniquely allocated to you by the
National ISRC Agency.
These first two segments combine to function as a unique prefix: US-_ _
_, which will allow you to assign ISRCs to recordings.
The next two segments are used by you to create ISRCs for each
individual recording, e.g. a track on a CD.
3: Year of Reference
US -_ _ _- 09 - These two characters represent the year in which you
create the ISRC, regardless of when the recording was made or when the
Registrant Code was allocated. For 2009, your ISRCs will use '09' and
for 2010, '10' ...and so on.
4: Designation
US-_ _ _ -09-00001 - The final five character part is used to create a
unique code for each recording or track. You should take care to ensure
that duplicates are not issued and that you do not issue more than one
ISRC to the same track. Only numeric digits are acceptable in this
segment.
We recommend beginning with 00001 and moving up sequentially from
there: US-_ _ _-09-00001, US-_ _ _-09-00002 ....US-_ _ _-09-00139. In
2010 the Year of Reference will change to '10' and you can begin with a
new sequence of designation codes.
Example
A sample set of Registrant Codes might look like:
Album 1:
track 1: US -_ _ _ -09-00001
track 2: US -_ _ _ -09-00002
track 3: US -_ _ _ -09-00003
track 4: US -_ _ _ -09-00004
track 5: US -_ _ _ -09-00005
Album 2:
track 1: US -_ _ _ -09-00006
track 2: US -_ _ _ -09-00007
track 3: US -_ _ _ -09-00008
track 4: US -_ _ _ -09-00009
track 5: US -_ _ _ -09-00010
And so on...
Video Recordings
The same Registrant Code can be used to assign ISRCs for audio and
video recordings. We recommend the use of a "9" at the beginning of the
designation code to assist in distinguishing between audio and video
recordings.
For audio recordings, the string of digits and letters could be: US-_ _
_-09-00001 through US-_ _ _-09-89999
For video recordings, the string of digits and letters could be: US-_ _
_-09-90000 through US-_ _ _-09-99999
Top of Page
ISRC Assignment Guidelines
If you have applied as a rights owner, you should only use your
Registrant Code to assign ISRCs for recordings that you own. If you are
working on behalf of someone else, you cannot use this Registrant Code,
and you should ask the owner of the recordings to apply for a
Registrant Code themselves so that they can assign ISRCs.
Separate arrangements are available where you can get a Registrant Code
for use with other people's recordings (see above ISRC Manager
information)
The IRSC folks also have provisions in place to allow for the
assignment of ISRCs for content that you license. This is available
only for licensees who have tried to, but cannot, obtain an ISRC from
the licensor. If you have applied as a non-rights owner, you may refer
to the guidelines you reviewed prior to being allocated your Registrant
Code. This rule does not apply.
Additional details can be obtained
by emailing the ISRC
An ISRC should remain with its recording for the life of the recording
regardless of changes in ownership, licensing, territory or method of
distribution. The rights may vary territory by territory but the ISRC
remains the same.
You should take particular care to ensure that you (i) never assign the
same ISRC to two different recordings and (ii) never assign an ISRC to
a recording that already has an ISRC issued.
You should keep good records of the ISRCs that you assign using
this/these code(s). As a minimum you should store the information
necessary to distinguish one ISRC from another but you will probably
find that you need much more than this for your own purposes.
Although you do not need to inform us of the ISRCs that you assign, we
recommend that you register the recordings and their ISRCs with the
local performance rights organization that deals with sound and/or
video recordings (as distinct from the organization that deals with
songwriters rights - who you may also want to contact if you are the
songwriter). In the US, this organization is Soundexchange. This should
help you if you are eligible for royalties from public performances,
for example on satellite radio.
You should review the ISRC Handbook and other information on the ISRC
web site at www.ifpi.org/isrc, and you should be very careful to comply
with all the ISRC rules. New information is posted to that site from
time to time and you should look for it.
You should comply with the relevant copyright law. Normally this will
require you to have permission for the owner for any recorded material
included in your recording.
Top of Page
About the US ISRC Agency
The Recording Industry Association of America has been appointed by the
International ISRC Agency to oversee the ISRC system within the United
States and its territories. As the U.S. Agency, we promote and monitor
the ISRC system within the United States and its territories.
The ISRC regularly performs the following duties:
ISRC Registrant Code Allocation
They allocate Registrant Codes for use by recording rights owners and
third party administrators to create ISRCs.
Provide Local Support
They provide Registrants with guidelines on the practical
implementation of the system and resolve operational problems for all
users in liaison with the International ISRC Agency.
Encourage Proper Use of the ISRC System
Their goal is to ensure that ISRCs are assigned to all tracks of
digital recordings and that the system effectively serves the needs of
recording rights owners, collecting societies, broadcasters and others.
Here's the homepage for the International
Standard Recording Code and you
can read the whole handbook,
or skim the highlights that follow...
Q) Does our company have to be a
member of
the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) or my
national music industry trade association in order to be eligible to
assign ISRCs to our recordings?
No. The ISRC System is constructed so that any entity
creating sound or music video recordings can issue ISRCs regardless of
their membership of, or standing with, industry associations and other
bodies.
What's in the actual code?
An ISRC is made up of four elements:
* ISO Country, e.g. GB for the UK, or US for the USA, DE for Germany,
etc
* Registrant Code, a three alpha-numeric unique reference
* Year of Reference, the last two digits of the current year, e.g. '05'
for 2005
* Designation Code, a five digit unique number, e.g. '00013'
The ISO Country Code and the Registrant Code are issued by the National
Agencies or by the International ISRC Agency; the rest of the
identifier is then allocated by the entity wishing to identify their
sound or music video recordings.
Are the hyphens included when encoding an
ISRC onto a CD?
No. The hyphens are only used when the ISRC Code is visually presented.
Check out Section
3.5.1. More detailed information about ISRC implementation in
software can be found in the ISRC Handbook, Section
4.10
Our company has just acquired the rights to
a recording that already has an ISRC. Do we have to apply for a new
ISRC for this recording?
No. The ISRC remains the same, regardless of changed ownership. The
first owner of the rights to a recording normally assigns an ISRC. Once
assigned that ISRC identifies the recording throughout its life.
Changes in ownership do not affect the ISRC. However if changes are
made to the recording that involve new artistic input and these affect
the rights associated with that recording, and it is re-issued, the new
owner must assign a new ISRC, using their Registrant Code.
What sorts of changes to an existing
recording that already has an ISRC require a new ISRC?
These are some of the modifications to a recording that would require
the allocation of a new ISRC:
* Restoration of historical recordings
* Changes in playing time
* Remixes/edits
* Compilations
More detailed information can be found in the ISRC Handbook Section
4.9
Our company uses an in-house code for
identifying our sound and music video recordings. We then use this in
the desgination code of the ISRC. Sometimes an in-house code may apply
to two versions of the same recording because we have remastered some
of our backstock for re-issue. Can we use the same ISRC for the new
remastered version?
No. Re-use of an ISRC that has already been allocated to another
recording or to another version of a recording is not permitted in
order to guarantee the unique and unambiguous identification provided
by an ISRC. A new ISRC should be assigned whenever a recording has been
re-issued in a revised or re-mastered form, even if both items have the
same in-house code.
If a recording has been issued without an
ISRC, can it be assigned one retroactively?
Yes. Recordings, which have not been assigned an ISRC, should be
provided with one before it is re-released. If the recording has
changed ownership, and did not have an ISRC originally and is being
released unchanged by the current rights holder, the Registrant Code
should be that of the current rights holder. The Year of Reference
should be the year of allocation of the new ISRC.
Our artist plans to issue both sound and
music video recordings. Do both types of product get an ISRC?
Yes. As well as using the ISRC to identify sound recordings and music
video recordings, ISRC may be used to identify associated audio and
audiovisual material, more detailed information can be found in the
ISRC Handbook - Section
4.4 and Section
4.5
Does the ISRC System distinguish between
sound and music video recordings released by the same company?
As national legislation often differentiates between the
administrations of rights in sound recordings and in music video
recordings (for instance as phonograms or videograms), it is
recommended that the procedures for assigning ISRC include a means of
distinguishing between audio and audiovisual formats in order to
facilitate rights management.
It is left to the discretion of the National ISRC Agencies to decide
the appropriate method of administering this distinction, more detailed
information is available in the ISRC Handbook - Section
3.6
Which part of our company should be
responsible for issuing ISRCs to our releases?
The head honcho... the record company.... the main dude or dudette...
whoever's in charge, but ultimately it's up to YOU to be sure it gets
done....! Be sure you get it right. It is important that ISRCs are
actually encoded into appropriate digital products. And since ISRCs are
normally allocated at the point prior to the preparation of the final
production Pre-Master it is recommended that the responsibility for
assigning ISRCs is linked to the area responsible for this process.
What happens when an ISRC is assigned to
the wrong item? How can the problem be solved? Can we re-use the ISRC
on the item for which it was originally intended?
Once set up, an ISRC must not be re-used under any circumstances, more
detailed information is available in the ISRC Handbook - Section
4.1.3
Can ISRCs be applied to promotional
material?
Yes, ISRCs can be applied to promotional material such as 30-second
clips and hidden tracks particularly if at any time in the future the
asset may be separately exploited- this does not necessarily imply
monetary value. More detailed information is available in the ISRC
Handbook, please see Section
4.1.2 & Section
4.9.3
How are Classical recordings identified
using an ISRC?
In classical music, the performers often vary from movement to movement
(consider for example Handel's Messiah) and increasingly the individual
movements are being broadcast separately. Because the rights often vary
from movement to movement, it is recommended that separate ISRCs be
allocated to each part (e.g. track) of a composite recording as well as
an overall ISRC to the recording as a whole. More detailed information
is available in the ISRC Handbook - Section
4.9.11.
Other formats and info
Unless you're having your pressing plant upload the ISRC codes, we'll
input them during the final stage of mastering. Our system will allow
an ISRC to be associated with each track. Contact us regarding point of
sale codes such as EAN/UPC.
The process for Mini-Disc is very similar to that for Compact Disc. If
you're making DVDs, the ISRC is contained in the packet headers of an
audio stream and can be included by the authoring systems of your DVD
production engineers. DVD-Video has a similar structure to DVD-Audio
and the ISRC can be added by authoring systems. Contact us regarding
SACD's. VHS Music Video and other analogue tape formats have no clear
place to carry ISRC information. Where music videos are provided to
broadcasters, it is recommended that they should carry an ISRC number
on the time clock before the video and documentation accompanying the
video.
Most formats for electronically distributed music allow the inclusion
of an ISRC, which can be inserted by authoring software other than our
mastering system. Where electronically distributed formats include
several tracks, the ISRC of each track should be associated with it in
the metadata of the file. The MP3 format does allow rights management
information like ISRC to be included however it is rarely used. What is
used is the ID3 system of tags, which is not part of the international
standard, but does enable ISRC to be encoded. It is therefore
recommended that an ISRC be encoded into an ID3 tag.
Thank you to the International Standard Recording Code folks for all
that info!
Date created: 01/07/05 - updated
9/2/10
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