In addition to the music on your CD or digital file, there is certain information that travels with your music to identify your song, and provide a way to keep track of how many copies of your track or album have sold. This information is known as metadata. One of the most important pieces of metadata is your ISRC code. An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a unique 12-character alphanumeric “digital fingerprint” that stays with an individual recorded track forever, regardless of any changes in ownership of the track.
ISRCs are added to the recording during the mastering stage, or at the encoding stage by whichever digital aggregator/distributor you are using to deliver your recorded content to the retailer. ISRC codes are used to trace sales of single tracks through digital distribution outlets like iTunes, as well as help to trace the owner of a recording who is owed royalties when their recording is used by Internet and satellite radio. A UPC (Universal Product Code or Barcode) represents the entire digital product, as opposed to just an individual digital track. UPC codes are also found on the back of the sound recording’s physical packaging, and are used by both brick-and-mortar retailers and online outlets to gather and track sales information for the entire product.
Soundscan compiles UPC sales data from thousands of physical and digital retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada (as well as sales from artists on tour) to compile its weekly list of music sales. These reports are an important ingredient in the weekly Billboard charts, and also factor into many A&R departments’ decisions to sign an artist or not. ISRC registrant codes are allocated by national ISRC agencies to both corporations and individuals. Distribution companies and companies like
SoundExchange use this data to monitor plays and streams of registered content.
The usual practice is to do this free of charge, but national agencies may make a reasonable charge to cover their costs. You are able to obtain an ISRC registrant code from the RIAA which allows you to use up to 100,000 codes per year. There is currently a $80 one time fee per applicant (and polices to follow) but you a can also become an ISRC manager if you meet certain criteria and adhere to their operations policies. One thing to keep in mind is you will also need software to encode the ISRC codes into the tracks before sending off to get mastered. But keep in mind that your Red Book mastering will include the embedding of ISRC codes if its being press to a cd but the digital technology has allowed for that process to happen even after you have recorded and mixed down and mastered your track. Though most services like Disc Makers includes the ISRC code in your tracks during the mastering process at no extra charge and their are ISRC managers who will sell you codes for as low as $2 a code.
If you are serious about your craft and you want to make sure you are properly represented, ISRCs should be at the top of you list of things to take care of before releasing your music.
