What's an ISRC code?

The ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a unique 12-character alphanumeric code assigned to each individual sound recording. Think of it as a fingerprint for your track.

Format

An ISRC follows this structure: CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN

• CC: Country code (2 letters)
• XXX: Registrant code (3 characters)
• YY: Year of reference (2 digits)
• NNNNN: Designation code (5 digits)

Example: US-AB1-24-00001

Why Is It Important?

1. Tracking: ISRCs allow platforms to track streams and sales across all services
2. Royalties: They ensure proper royalty collection and distribution
3. Identification: They uniquely identify your recording globally
4. Preservation: When transferring between distributors, ISRCs keep your streaming history

Key Rules

• Each unique recording gets its own ISRC
• Remixes, live versions, and remastered versions each need separate ISRCs
• An ISRC should never be reused for a different recording
• If you re-distribute the same recording, keep the same ISRC

Zil Distribution can generate ISRCs for you automatically, or you can provide your own if you already have them.