Without an ISRC code, your track cannot be reliably identified by any platform or collection society. Here is how they work, why they matter, and how to make sure yours are correctly issued.
What is an ISRC code?
An ISRC — International Standard Recording Code — is a unique 12-character identifier assigned to a specific sound recording. Think of it as a barcode for your track. Every commercially released recording should have one, and it follows that recording permanently, regardless of which platform it appears on, which distributor delivered it, or which label releases it.
How an ISRC is structured
An ISRC takes the format: CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN
- CC — two-letter country code for the registrant's country
- XXX — three-character alphanumeric registrant code (assigned to the label or distributor)
- YY — two-digit year of registration
- NNNNN — five-digit unique designation for the specific recording
An example
GB-A1B-26-00001 identifies a recording registered by a UK-based registrant in 2026. The same ISRC appears in Spotify's database, Apple Music's catalogue, and PRS for Music's registry — allowing all three to unambiguously identify and report on the same recording.
Why ISRCs matter for royalty collection
When a streaming platform reports plays to a collection society, it uses ISRCs to identify which recordings generated which royalties. If your track has no ISRC — or has an incorrect one — the platform cannot attribute the play to you. The royalty exists, but it cannot find you. It goes into an unmatched pool and, after a holding period, is redistributed to other rights holders.
Common ISRC problems that cost artists money
ISRC errors are more common than most artists realise:
- Missing ISRCs — track was distributed without one, usually by a budget distributor
- Duplicate ISRCs — different recordings sharing the same code, causing royalty misattribution
- Incorrect ISRCs — typos or formatting errors preventing correct matching
- Re-released recordings without new ISRCs — a re-release or remaster should carry a new ISRC, not inherit the original's
- ISRCs not submitted to collection societies — the code exists but was never registered with PRS, PPL, or relevant societies
ISRC vs ISWC: understanding the difference
These two codes are often confused. An ISRC identifies a sound recording — the specific performance you recorded. An ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code) identifies the underlying musical composition — the song itself, independent of any specific recording. A song can have dozens of recordings, each with its own ISRC, all linked back to a single ISWC. Both are required for complete royalty attribution.
How to check if your ISRCs are correct
You can look up ISRCs through your distributor's back-end, through IFPI's ISRC search tool, or through your PRO's catalogue portal. What is harder to verify is whether those ISRCs have been correctly submitted to all relevant collection societies and whether they are matching correctly in streaming reports. That is where metadata administration becomes essential.
If you have a catalog of more than a handful of releases and have never audited your ISRC registrations, the chances are meaningful that some royalties are currently unattributed. Our Catalog Assessment will identify any gaps.