What Are ISRC and UPC Codes? How to Get Them for Your UK Release
By Written by Peter McVeigh
Every track needs an ISRC and every release needs a UPC, but most independent artists never learn what they are for. Here is what each code does, how to get them in the UK and the mistakes that cause problems later.
When you upload a song to a distributor, you will be asked about two codes: an ISRC and a UPC. Most distributors fill them in for you, so many artists release for years without knowing what they are. That is fine until you switch distributor, chase missing royalties or try to prove a recording is yours.
This guide explains what the two codes do, where to get them in the UK and how to keep them under control. It is general information, and fees and processes change, so check the organisations mentioned before you rely on any detail.
What an ISRC is
ISRC stands for International Standard Recording Code. It is a 12 character code that identifies one specific recording, such as the studio version of one song. It stays with that recording for life, whichever platform plays it and whoever distributes it.
Each track needs its own code. A four track EP needs four ISRCs. A new mix or a live version of the same song is a different recording, so it normally gets its own code too. A radio edit or remaster usually does as well, although you should check how your distributor handles this.
The code is what lets streaming services, broadcasters and collecting societies match a play to the right recording and the right payee. If the same recording is uploaded twice with two different ISRCs, plays can be split between the two and money can go astray.
What a UPC is
A UPC is a 12 digit barcode that identifies a release, not a track. A single has one UPC and an EP or album has one UPC, however many tracks are on it. So a five track EP has one UPC and five ISRCs.
Stores and platforms use it to identify the product. In some regions you will also see the 13 digit version, called an EAN. Your distributor will normally handle whichever applies.
How to get ISRCs in the UK
In the UK, PPL is the agency that issues ISRC codes. If you register with PPL as a recording rightsholder, you are given your own first registrant code, which is a short prefix that starts with GB. You then use it to number your own tracks. If you only want the codes and do not want full membership, PPL has offered an option to register for ISRCs only. Check PPL's current registration pages for how it works today.
The codes themselves have been free in the UK. Be wary of any company that wants to charge you for an ISRC prefix.
The easier route is to let your distributor assign them. Most of the main distributors will give you ISRCs for free on each release. The trade-off is that the code may be tied to that company's prefix, so ask what happens to your codes if you leave. Many artists find it safer to get their own PPL registrant code once they are releasing regularly, so they control the codes whichever distributor they use.
How to get a UPC
Most distributors generate a UPC for each release at no extra cost. That is the simplest option, and it is fine for most independent artists.
If you want to own your barcodes, you can buy them from GS1, the barcode organisation. That involves a membership with an annual fee, so it is mainly worth it for labels and artists pressing physical products who want the same barcodes everywhere. If you are only releasing digitally, you rarely need to.
Be careful with websites selling cheap barcode lists. Some codes sold that way have not been properly registered, and that can cause problems with a release later.
Why they matter for getting paid
Royalties are matched using data. The ISRC identifies the recording and links its plays to the right owner and performers. If you register your recordings and performers with PPL, the ISRC is part of how plays on radio and in public spaces are matched to you. The UPC identifies the release on the stores.
Wrong or missing codes are one of the common reasons royalties do not arrive. If your data does not match across your distributor, PPL and your own records, money can sit unclaimed until someone fixes it.
Keep a record
Keep a simple list of every track with its title, ISRC, release date, UPC, distributor and who owns the recording. A spreadsheet is enough, and our ISRC Code Tracker is built for exactly this.
It is dull work and it pays for itself the first time you need to move a release, answer a rights query or register the recordings with PPL.
Common mistakes
The mistakes that cause trouble later are releasing the same recording through two distributors with different ISRCs, reusing an ISRC for a remix, live version or new mix, and not knowing which company controls your codes before you leave them. Others are buying barcodes or ISRCs from a reseller when you can get them free, and not keeping a record, so you cannot answer a basic rights question later.
What to do next
List your released tracks and check each one has an ISRC and a UPC, and note where the codes came from. If you are releasing regularly, look at registering with PPL as a recording rightsholder so you can issue your own ISRCs. Our guide on how to register with PPL as an artist and rights holder walks through it.
If you are planning a release, our step by step release checklist shows where the codes fit in. And if you are working out how the whole registration picture fits together, see our guide to rights registration with PPL, PRS and MCPS.
Disclaimer
This article is general information for independent artists, not legal or financial advice. Registration steps, fees and policies at PPL, GS1 and distributors change, so check their websites for current details.