ISRC

ISRC (International Standard Recording Code, 国际标准录音制品编码) is an international standard code used to identify specific recordings and music videos. The current system is defined by ISO 3901, and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) serves as the international registration authority. The ISRC is transferred along with the commercial use of a recording, enabling record company, collective management organizations, broadcasters, and digital services to reference the same recorded content across different releases.

An ISRC consists of 12 alphanumeric characters and is typically displayed as `ISRC AA-6QZ-20-00047`. The five-digit Prefix Code identifies the range of registrants authorized to assign codes; the two-digit Year of Reference represents the last two digits of the year in which the code was assigned; and the five-digit Designation Code is assigned by the registrant sequentially or according to their own system within that year. The year does not refer to the year of recording, and the Prefix Code cannot be directly interpreted as the current rights holder or the country of origin of the original recording. The ISRC identifies a recording; it does not identify an album, a physical disc, or a retail product. When the same recording is included on a single, an album, a compilation, or in different regional versions, the original ISRC is typically retained; substantially different recordings, edits, mixes, or music videos should be assigned separate codes in accordance with the rules. Simply changing the file container, bitrate, or lossless compression method does not constitute a new recording. Whether a reissue requires a new ISRC depends on whether the processing results in a substantial change to the finished product as defined by the standard.

The code itself does not contain decodable rights information. After a recording is sold, the original ISRC generally remains in use, while rights holder and distribution metadata in relevant databases are updated separately; the character structure also does not reveal the artist, track title, master quality, or copyright term. Referring to the Prefix Code as a “country code” or “record company code” is an oversimplification of the old structure.

ISRCs can be embedded in digital audio metadata, CD subcodes, or supply chain databases, but not all physical releases will have them printed on the packaging. The absence of a visible ISRC does not mean the recording lacks a code; even when a code is printed, it must be verified to ensure it corresponds to a specific track. It is also distinct from the ISWC, which identifies musical works; the GTIN/barcode, which identifies product versions; and the record label self-assigned catalog number.