ISRC vs UPC Codes:
Everything Musician’s Need To Know

Yes — you need both, but for different purposes.

ISRC Codes (International Standard Recording Codes) are assigned to each individual track on your album. They identify and track plays, streams, and sales for each specific song.
UPC Codes (Universal Product Codes) are assigned to the album as a whole.

If you plan to sell your album in multiple formats — for example, as a digital download and as a physical CD — you will need two separate UPC codes:
1. One for the digital album.
2. One for the physical CD.

This separation allows sales tracking systems (like Billboard’s Nielsen SoundScan) to correctly distinguish between:
– Individual song performance
– Complete digital album downloads
– Physical album sales

ISRC: Yes — every single track needs its own ISRC code, whether released as part of an album or as a standalone single.
UPC: Highly recommended, and sometimes required. A UPC code for singles is required by:
– iTunes / Apple Music
– Nielsen SoundScan (for Billboard chart eligibility)
– Physical CD retailers
– Many music aggregators, streaming services, and digital download platforms

No — the ISRC code stays the same for the same recording, no matter how many albums, singles, or compilations it appears on.
A new ISRC is only required if the recording changes in any way, such as:
– Remixing or editing
– Adding or changing fades that alter the track length by more than 10 seconds
– Remastering for restoration (e.g., re-pitching, re-equalizing, de-noising, or de-clicking)
– Including part of a previously released recording in a new compilation

A cover song is a new performance and must have its own unique ISRC code, even though the composition already exists.
When registering:
– List yourself (or your band) as the featured artist
– Use the original song title

Remember: ISRC codes identify recordings, not compositions — so even if the song is the same, your performance is different

Yes — audio and video recordings must have separate ISRC codes.
Audio ISRC codes and video ISRC codes are tracked differently.
Video ISRCs often have a “9” in the 8th position of the 12-character code indicating a video recording.

ISRC codes for videos work the same way as for audio — they uniquely identify that specific video performance for tracking, royalties, and reporting.

You can:
Request from your distributor or label Many music distributors (like CD Baby or DistroKid) will assign video ISRCs if they distribute your music video to Apple Music, VEVO, or other platforms.
Register as your own ISRC Manager – While not the normal course, in the U.S., apply through the ISRC Agency at the RIAA to create your own codes.
Use the correct video format – Video ISRCs follow the same 12-character structure as audio ISRCs but often have a “9” in the 8th position to indicate a video recording.
Note: Each distinct version of your video (standard cut, director’s cut, lyric video, etc.) needs its own unique ISRC code.

Yes — you can obtain ISRC codes before your track information is 100% complete. This is helpful if you need codes during mastering but haven’t finalized:
– Exact track durations
– Finalized mixes
– Final sequencing

At minimum, you’ll need:
– Track title
– Artist name
– Track duration (approximate is okay if not final)
– Version (original mix, remix, live, etc.)
– Recording date

ISRC codes are critical for:
– Tracking plays on streaming services
– Monitoring radio airplay
– Collecting royalties from performance rights organizations
– Reporting sales to Billboard and other charts
– Preventing misattribution of plays and sales to the wrong recording

You can obtain ISRC codes by:
1. Requesting them from your music distributor (e.g., DistroKid, Too Lost, TuneCore, CD Baby)
2. Becoming your own ISRC Manager by registering with the U.S. ISRC Agency
3. Working with a label or mastering engineer who assigns ISRC codes during production

No. An ISRC code identifies a specific recording, while a barcode (UPC or EAN) identifies the entire product. Consequently, think of ISRC as a fingerprint for your song. Think of the UPC as the price tag for the whole album or single.

Yes — most major digital music distributors automatically assign ISRC codes to your tracks when you upload them. However, if you already have ISRC codes, you can usually enter them during setup so your existing codes are used.

Yes — a UPC code is still required for chart reporting, even if your release is digital-only. As a result, without a UPC, your album or single may not be eligible for Billboard charts or official sales tracking.

No — every recording must have a unique ISRC code. Not surprisingly, reusing an ISRC can cause royalty tracking errors and misreporting on streaming and sales platforms.