ISRC Code Finder: How to Look Up, Verify and Assign Your Recording Codes

What Is an ISRC Code and Why Do You Need to Find One?

An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is the unique identifier attached to a specific recording. It is a 12-character alphanumeric code in the format CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN. Every commercially released recording should have one. Without an ISRC, streaming platforms cannot accurately attribute plays, and royalty collection organisations cannot match your recording to incoming payments. You might need to find or verify an ISRC because: you are switching distributors and need to preserve the existing code; you are auditing your catalog and suspect codes are missing or duplicated; or you received a royalty statement referencing codes you do not recognise.

Official ISRC Lookup Tools

These are the primary databases where ISRC codes are registered and searchable:

• ISRC.net — the international ISRC agency database. Search by artist name, title, or code. Not all codes are publicly visible, but major commercial releases are indexed here.
• PPL Repertoire Search — if you or your label are PPL members, your registered recordings and their ISRCs are accessible in your account dashboard. PPL is the UK body that collects neighbouring rights for recorded music.
• Your distributor portal — DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Amuse, and most aggregators display the ISRC assigned to each release in your account. This is the fastest lookup for self-distributed artists.
• Spotify for Artists — go to the track in your Spotify for Artists dashboard, click the track details, and the ISRC is listed under metadata.
• Apple Music for Artists — available under the track metadata view in the dashboard.

What to Do When an ISRC Is Missing

If a track has no ISRC — perhaps it was distributed before codes were assigned, or the distributor did not issue one — you have two options:

• Request one through your distributor: most major distributors can assign a new ISRC to an existing track. Contact their support team with the release details.
• Register as an ISRC manager: UK-based registrants can apply through PPL (the UK ISRC agency) to self-assign codes. This is the right option for labels managing a large catalog.

What to Do When an ISRC Is Wrong or Duplicated

Duplicate ISRCs — where the same code appears on two different recordings — cause royalty misattribution. This happens most often when: a label reuses an old code on a new release, or a distributor generates a new code for a re-upload of an existing track. To resolve a duplicate: contact your distributor with evidence of both releases and the correct code for each. PPL can also correct ISRC registrations if you have membership.

Why ISRC Codes Matter for Royalty Collection

ISRC codes are the connective tissue between a play on Spotify and a payment to the correct rights holders. If your codes are missing, wrong, or duplicated, royalties accumulate in unallocated pools — eventually distributed to other rights holders as black box income. A catalog metadata audit will identify every ISRC gap in your releases before income is permanently lost.

How to Get Started

If your catalog has ISRC gaps or you need a full metadata review:

• Complete the Catalog Assessment at codegroupmusic.co.uk/#catalog-assessment
• We audit every release in your catalog and identify missing or incorrect ISRCs
• Corrections are filed with your distributor and PPL as part of the engagement

Frequently Asked Questions