No, UPC and ISRC codes are not the same; they serve distinct but complementary purposes within the music industry. While both are essential identifiers for tracking music sales and ensuring proper royalty distribution, they apply to different levels of content.
Understanding UPC and ISRC
Both UPC (Universal Product Code) and ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) are vital for managing music content, especially in the digital age. They act as unique fingerprints that help identify and track music, facilitating the collection and distribution of royalties to content owners.
Key Differences Between UPC and ISRC
| Feature | UPC (Universal Product Code) | ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Identifies a commercial product sold at retail, such as an entire album, a physical CD, or a digital bundle. | Identifies a specific sound recording or music video, allowing for individual track tracking. |
| Scope | Product-level identifier. It's for the overall release. | Track-level identifier. It's for each distinct audio recording. |
| Application | Utilized for album sales (both physical and digital), EP sales, or any bundle of tracks sold as a single unit. | Utilized for individual song sales, streams, radio airplay, and digital downloads of single tracks. |
| Format | Typically a 12-digit number (UPC-A) encoded into a scannable barcode. | A 12-character alphanumeric code, unique to each master recording. |
| Issuing Authority | Managed by GS1 for global standards; obtained through designated agencies or distributors. | Administered by the IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) globally; issued by ISRC agencies. |
| Tracking Entities | Tracked by retailers, digital distributors, and data aggregators like Nielsen/Soundscan. | Tracked by digital service providers (DSPs), performance rights organizations (PROs), SoundExchange, and Nielsen/Soundscan. |
| Royalty Impact | Essential for tracking overall product sales, which informs mechanical and sales royalties for the entire release. | Crucial for tracking performance royalties, streaming royalties, and mechanical royalties for each individual track. |
How They Work Together
While distinct, UPC and ISRC codes often work in tandem:
- Album Release: An album (the product) will have one UPC code assigned to it.
- Individual Tracks: Each song on that album (the individual recordings) will have its own unique ISRC code.
For example, if an artist releases an album with 10 songs, the album will have one UPC, and each of the 10 songs will have its own unique ISRC. This allows for precise tracking: the UPC tracks how many copies of the entire album are sold, while each ISRC tracks how many times each individual song is streamed, downloaded, or played on radio.
Both UPC and ISRC codes are integral to the modern music ecosystem. They are consistently tracked by entities such as SoundExchange and Nielsen/Soundscan, which then facilitate the accurate distribution of payments to the content owners. This structured identification system ensures that artists, songwriters, and labels are compensated fairly for their creative works across various consumption platforms.
