ISRC Codes Explained: Format, Validation and When to Reuse One
Updated 2026-10-21 · 4 sources
Short answer
An ISRC identifies one sound recording (not a song or a release). It's 12 characters: a 5-character prefix (2 letters + 3 letters or digits), a 2-digit year of reference, and a 5-digit designation code, e.g. AA6Q72000047. Hyphens and the word "ISRC" are only for display. Reuse the same ISRC wherever the same recording appears. A different mix, edit or version needs a new one.
The format
- Prefix code (5 characters): 2 letters followed by 3 alphanumeric characters, allocated by an ISRC agency. In older allocations the 2 letters were a country code [1].
- Year of reference (2 digits): the year the ISRC was assigned, not necessarily the year the track was recorded [1].
- Designation code (5 digits): assigned by the registrant, zero-padded (e.g. 00013), and never repeated within the same year [2].
- Display form: "ISRC AA-6Q7-20-00047". The normative form is the 12 characters without hyphens [2]. Deliver it without hyphens or spaces.
Reuse or assign a new one?
The ISRC agency's guidance: don't assign a new ISRC to a recording that already has one. Keep the same ISRC across releases, formats and countries, and when the recording is licensed to another party [3]. Each distinct recording gets its own ISRC, so remixes, edits and other versions need new codes. For remasters, the Handbook's Annex A explains when a new code is needed [3].
Don't assign ISRCs to recordings owned by someone else, and don't use them for compositions, releases, artwork or MIDI files [3].
How to validate a batch
A valid ISRC is exactly 12 characters, uppercase, matching letters-letters + 3 alphanumerics + 2 digits + 5 digits. The most common delivery errors are hyphens or spaces, lowercase letters, an 11- or 13-character code, and the same ISRC on two different recordings. The Metadata Checker flags all four. The catalog audit also lists every ISRC used on more than one row.
Examples
| Instead of | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| US-RC1-26-00002 | USRC12600002 | Hyphens are for display only. |
| USRC1260004 | USRC12600004 | 11 characters: the designation code must be 5 digits. |
| usrc12600001 | USRC12600001 | Deliver uppercase. |
| Same ISRC on "Summer Rain" and "Summer Rain (Acoustic)" | Two different ISRCs | A different version is a distinct recording. |
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FAQ
Does the year in the ISRC have to be the release year?
No. It's the year the code was assigned. The ISRC agency says the recording year belongs in the metadata, not in the code.
Can I pick my own prefix?
No. ISRC agencies allocate prefixes sequentially; you can't choose particular characters.
My single is also on the album. New ISRC?
Not if it's the identical recording. Reuse the existing ISRC on every release that carries it. Only a different recording (new mix, edit, version) gets a new code.
Is an ISRC the same as a UPC?
No. The ISRC identifies a recording; the UPC/EAN identifies the release (the product). See the UPC guide.
Related guides
Sources
- International ISRC Registration Authority: ISRC Structure
- ISRC Handbook, 4th edition (2021), IFPI
- International ISRC Registration Authority: When Not To Assign
- International ISRC Registration Authority: FAQ
Platform rules change. Each rule above is attributed to the company or standard that published it, as checked on 2026-10-21. This guide is not legal advice.