ISRC codes and UPC/EAN
(© Jeffrey de Gans May 2026)
Back in the day, ISRC codes were primarily used for CDs. Streaming platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Tidal did not yet exist. CDs were released by major record labels, and these labels handled ISRC administration, providing the codes to the mastering engineer, who then embedded them into the master CD.
As an artist, you often weren’t even aware that ISRC codes existed, let alone responsible for managing them. So don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone in that.
The music industry has changed significantly over the years. With platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music, you no longer need a major label to release your music, you can do it independently. But with that, as an artist or independent label, you need to know about ISRC codes. ISRCs are not rocket science; once you understand the basics, they are quite straightforward.
An ISRC code is a unique identifier assigned to each recording. You can think of it as a “digital fingerprint” for your track. It is used for tracking plays, ensuring correct royalty payments, and helping you manage and control your own repertoire.
- NL-ABC-26-00101
- NL is the countrycode, so for the Netherlands it’s NL, Sweden SE, Belgium BE etc
- ABC is the repetoire code, this is what you get assigned and is ‘your own code’
- 26 is the year of registration, so 26 is 2026
- 00101 is the 'recording code'
If you have your own ISRC repertoire code, you are responsible for managing the recording codes. To keep things organized, I recommend using a numbering structure where the first three digits indicate the release number and the last two digits indicate the track number.
For example:
NL-ABC-26-00101
- 001 = release number
- 01 = track number
This makes it much easier to identify which release a recording belongs to just by looking at the ISRC.
For example, the codes for two different releases, albums, or EPs could look like this:
| Best practice | A less practical option |
|
release #1 track 1 NL-ABC-26-00101 |
release #1 track 1 NL-ABC-26-00001 |
|
release #2 track 1 NL-ABC-26-00201 |
release #2 track 1 NL-ABC-26-00004 |
Every recording requires its own unique ISRC code, and each version of a song must also have a separate code assigned. For example, if you have both a radio edit and an extended mix of the same track, each version needs its own ISRC. The same applies to explicit and clean versions, as they are considered different versions of the recording.
However, if the exact same recording is mastered differently for formats such as streaming services and CD, the ISRC remains the same. In that case, it is still the same recording, only a different master.
If you are releasing music only digitally and do not plan to produce a physical format such as a CD, you can use a distributor like DistroKid, CD Baby, or TuneCore. These services not only deliver your music to streaming platforms but can also generate ISRC codes for you. One drawback is that it may be harder to keep track of which ISRC code belongs to which track, although the codes are usually included in your confirmation emails or available in the distributor’s dashboard.
If you are also planning a physical CD release, the same ISRC codes must be used for both the digital release and the CD. This can create complications, because the CD production process requires a DDP master with the ISRC codes already embedded. With distributors or aggregators, ISRC codes are often only assigned after upload, while CD manufacturing typically needs to be finalized earlier in the process.
To avoid this timing issue, it is often a good idea to obtain your own ISRC repertoire code and generate your ISRCs yourself. This gives you full control over the codes from the start and ensures consistency across both digital and physical releases.
Follow this link for the Netherlands
Follow this link for Belgium
It’s free of charge and they useually respond pretty fast.
For other countries, the process may vary, but your local society for copyright, composers, and music publishers can usually assist you in obtaining one.
Once your repertoire code has been assigned, you can start creating your own ISRC codes, it's as simple as that.
For CD production, I will create a DDP image and embed the ISRC codes, CD-Text, and UPC/EAN information. This DDP file is then sent directly to the CD factory for replication or duplication. All you need to do is provide me with the codes and the necessary information, I’ll take care of the rest.It is also possible to embed ISRC codes—at no additional cost—along with other metadata directly into your masters using the official EBU/MPG BWF (Broadcast Wave Format) standard.
However, be aware that most distributors and aggregators currently do not read these metadata tags (as of May 2026). This means that when uploading your music to a distributor, you will still need to manually enter the ISRC codes!
When you plan to release music on CD or vinyl, you are dealing with a physical product that will be sold in stores or online. Like any other retail product, whether it’s a bottle of beer, a pack of cookies, or a CD, each item requires a unique identifier. This is the UPC (Universal Product Code) or EAN (International Article Number), which is a barcode consisting of 12 digits (UPC) or 13 digits (EAN).
This code must be printed on the packaging so it can be scanned at the point of sale. It is also good practice to embed the same code in the CD master (DDP image). Therefore, make sure to provide the UPC/EAN together with your ISRC codes and CD-Text when preparing your release.
A UPC/EAN is not free of charge but can be bought online. Just google for ‘buy UPC/EAN’ and you will find a lot of ‘online shops’ selling codes.
I made an excell sheet for filling out all infomation which you can send along with the mixes. You can download the excell sheet here
Some practical info and links
- International ISRC agency: http://isrc.ifpi.org/en/
- International ISRC database: https://isrcsearch.ifpi.org/#!/search
- ISRC the Netherlands: https://www.sena.nl/makers/rechthebbenden/isrc
- ISRC Belgium: https://www.simim.be/nl/isrc.html
- Barcodes lookup and info: https://www.barcodelookup.com/
- Excellsheet for DDP’s https://www.dagoosemastering.nl/mail/CD_text_sheet_DGM.xls
I hope this information helped you to understand how ISRC and UPC/EAN codes work, how to use them and how to get them. If you still have questions, feel free to ask.
The final step before release can make all the difference. I approach mastering with precision, respect, and serious attention to detail.