[FAQ]

Hey,

I’m getting ready to upload my new album via my distributor, and I’m trying to be meticulous with the metadata. I’ve encountered the fields for ISRC and ISWC codes, and while I know they’re important, I’m not totally clear on the difference between them.

Am I right in thinking the ISRC is tied to the master recording and the ISWC is tied to the composition? My distributor can assign ISRCs for me, but I have no idea where the ISWC is supposed to come from. Is that something my PRO assigns after I register the song?

I want to make sure I have everything in place so the tracks are tracked properly for royalties and data on Spotify. A clear explanation of what these codes do and how to get them would be really helpful.

[Jeff Bullas]

Getting your metadata right is fundamental to getting paid correctly.

Short Answer: An ISRC is a unique code for a specific audio recording, essential for tracking master royalties. An ISWC is a unique code for the underlying musical composition, which is critical for tracking publishing royalties.

Think of these codes as the unique digital fingerprints for the different layers of content within your single track.

First, the ISRC is the fingerprint for the audio file itself—the master recording. Your distributor will typically assign this code, and it’s used to track every single stream of that specific recording to ensure master royalties are paid to the correct rights holder. Second, the ISWC is the fingerprint for the composition—the text-based lyrics and musical score. This code is assigned by your PRO after you register the work, and it allows collecting societies to track the use of your song across all its different recorded versions to pay out publishing royalties. Having both of these data points correctly embedded in your track’s metadata is non-negotiable for ensuring Spotify’s system can accurately report and pay for the use of both your audio content and your intellectual property.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

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