What Is an ISRC?

ISRC stands for International Standard Recording Code. It is a unique identifier for a specific sound recording.

An ISRC is a fifteen-character code in the format L-ABCD-12-34567. The first segment identifies the country. The second identifies the registrant. The final digits identify the specific recording.

Every track in a release carries its own ISRC. If a release has five tracks, it will have five ISRCs. The ISRC is used by platforms to identify which recording a listener is hearing and to pay the right rights holder.

ISRCs are assigned by the rights holder or a licensed distributor. The assignment should be recorded so the correct owner is identified. A release that ships without ISRCs will have its streams attributed incorrectly.

The ISRC is not changed when a release is remastered. A new ISRC is assigned when a recording is reissued. The code stays with the recording it was created for.