An example of an ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) number is USRC12300001. This unique, 12-character alphanumeric code identifies specific sound and music video recordings.
Understanding the ISRC Format
ISRC codes are a crucial tool for rights management in the music industry, enabling precise tracking of recordings for royalty collection and distribution. Every ISRC is exactly 12 characters long and follows a standardized structure, often presented with hyphens for readability, though these hyphens are not part of the code itself. The format is CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN, where each segment represents specific information about the recording.
Here's a breakdown of the components:
- CC (Country Code): The first two characters represent the two-character country code of the ISRC issuer. For instance, "US" denotes the United States, "GB" for the United Kingdom, or "JP" for Japan.
- XXX (Registrant Code): These three alphanumeric characters identify the specific organization or registrant that issued the ISRC. This code is assigned by the national ISRC agency in the issuer's country.
- YY (Year of Reference): The next two digits indicate the last two digits of the year the ISRC was assigned to the recording. For example, "23" would signify 2023.
- NNNNN (Designation Code): The final five digits are a unique numerical sequence, assigned by the registrant, to identify the specific recording within that year. Each recording assigned an ISRC by that registrant in that year must have a unique designation code, typically starting from 00001 and incrementing with each new recording.
Illustrative Example: USRC12300001
Let's examine our example, USRC12300001, to see how these parts come together:
| ISRC Segment | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CC | US | Country Code: United States, indicating the ISRC was issued by a registrant in the U.S. |
| XXX | RC1 | Registrant Code: An example code assigned to a specific ISRC issuer. |
| YY | 23 | Year of Reference: The ISRC was assigned in 2023. |
| NNNNN | 00001 | Designation Code: This is the first recording assigned an ISRC by this registrant in 2023. |
Practical Applications of ISRCs
ISRCs are essential for:
- Global Identification: Providing a unique, international identifier for sound recordings and music videos.
- Rights Management: Facilitating the tracking of usage of recordings across various platforms, including streaming services, radio broadcasts, and digital downloads.
- Royalty Collection: Ensuring that rights holders (e.g., record labels, artists, producers) are accurately compensated for the use of their recordings.
- Data Exchange: Streamlining the exchange of information about recordings between different parties in the music industry.
