ISRC: International Standard Recording Code
What It Is
An ISRC is a unique identifier for a specific recording. Every individual track you release gets its own ISRC. Think of it like a social security number for your song — no two recordings in the world share the same ISRC.The Format
An ISRC looks like this: US-ABC-24-12345 Breaking it down:- US — Country code (where the code was assigned)
- ABC — Registrant code (your distributor or label)
- 24 — Year of assignment
- 12345 — Unique designation number
USABC2412345. Both formats are valid.
Who Assigns It
Your distributor assigns your ISRC. This includes:- DistroKid — Assigns ISRCs automatically when you upload. Find them in your DistroKid dashboard under your release details.
- TuneCore — Assigns ISRCs during the upload process. View them in your TuneCore account under release information.
- CD Baby — Assigns ISRCs when you distribute. Find them in your CD Baby dashboard.
- AWAL — Assigns ISRCs during distribution.
- Label — If you are signed, your label handles ISRC assignment.
Where to Find Your ISRC
Here are the most common places to find your ISRC:- Your distributor’s dashboard — Look in the release details or track information section. Every major distributor shows ISRCs.
- Spotify for Artists — Go to your track, click on it, and look at the track details. The ISRC is listed there.
- Apple Music for Artists — Your ISRC is visible in the track metadata.
- Your distribution confirmation email — Many distributors include ISRCs in the email they send when your release is delivered to stores.
Tip: If you cannot find your ISRC, email your distributor’s support team. They can look it up in seconds.
UPC: Universal Product Code
What It Is
A UPC is a unique identifier for a release as a product. While an ISRC identifies a single recording, a UPC identifies the package — the album, EP, or single as a whole. If you release a 12-track album, the album gets one UPC, and each track gets its own ISRC.The Format
A UPC is a 12 or 13 digit number:196589654321
You have seen UPCs your whole life — they are the barcodes on physical products. For digital music, the same system applies, just without a physical barcode.
Who Assigns It
Like ISRCs, your distributor assigns your UPC. It is generated automatically when you create a release in their system.Where to Find Your UPC
The same places as your ISRC:- Your distributor’s dashboard (release-level details, not track-level)
- Spotify for Artists (album details)
- Apple Music for Artists (album details)
- Your distribution confirmation email
Why They Matter in Fanaura
Here is the key reason these codes matter to you as a Fanaura user:The ISRC Is the Key to Automatic Streaming Links
When your release date arrives, Fanaura uses your ISRC to search across all major streaming platforms and automatically find your streaming links. This is powered by the Odesli API, which maps ISRCs to platform-specific URLs. Without lifting a finger, Fanaura will find your track on:- Spotify
- Apple Music
- YouTube Music
- Amazon Music
- Deezer
- Tidal
- Pandora
- SoundCloud
- Audiomack
- iTunes Store
- YouTube
The UPC Helps with Catalog Organization
The UPC is less critical for Fanaura’s core functionality, but it is useful for:- Matching your release to the correct product across platforms
- Keeping your catalog organized
- Future analytics and reporting features
When to Add Your Codes
The Timeline
Most artists follow this timeline:- Upload to distributor (4-8 weeks before release) — You get your ISRC and UPC immediately or within a few days.
- Create your Fanaura release (3-4 weeks before release) — Add your ISRC if you have it, or skip it for now.
- Add ISRC before release day — This is the deadline that matters. As long as your ISRC is in Fanaura before your release date, automatic link fetching will work.
What If You Do Not Have Them Yet
Totally fine. Both ISRC and UPC are optional when creating a release in Fanaura. Your pre-save campaign works perfectly without them. Here is what happens in each scenario:| Situation | Pre-Save Campaign | Auto Link Fetching | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISRC added before release | Works | Works automatically | None |
| ISRC added after release | Works | Works (triggers on next check) | None |
| No ISRC at all | Works | Does not work | Add streaming links manually |
| UPC added | Works | No effect on links | None |
| No UPC | Works | No effect on links | None |
Using ISRC Lookup in Fanaura
When you enter an ISRC in the Add Track wizard (Step 2: Codes), you can click the lookup button to search for your track across platforms. If the track is already live somewhere, Fanaura can pull in:- Track title and album name — Auto-fill your metadata
- Artwork — Import the official artwork from the platform
- Release date — Fill in the correct release date
- Streaming links — Pre-populate your Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music links
Common Questions
Can I have an ISRC but no UPC?
Not typically. If your distributor assigned an ISRC, they almost certainly assigned a UPC too. The UPC lives at the release level, so check the release (album/single) details, not the individual track details.Do I need a different ISRC for each version of a song?
Yes. A remix, acoustic version, live version, or remaster each gets its own unique ISRC. The ISRC identifies a specific recording, so any new recording gets a new code.What if I re-record or remaster my song?
It gets a new ISRC. The original recording keeps its original ISRC. Taylor Swift’s re-recorded albums, for example, have completely different ISRCs than the originals.Can I get my own ISRCs without a distributor?
Yes, but most independent artists do not need to. You can register directly with your country’s ISRC agency (in the US, that is RIAA), but your distributor does this for you automatically.My song is already on Spotify but I lost my ISRC. How do I find it?
Open Spotify for Artists, go to your track, and look at the metadata section. Your ISRC is listed there. Alternatively, right-click any track in the Spotify desktop app, go to “Share” > “Copy Song Link,” and use a service like song.link to look up the ISRC from the URL.Quick Tips
- Add your ISRC as soon as your distributor assigns it. The earlier it is in Fanaura, the less you have to think about on release day.
- Double-check the code. A typo in your ISRC means Fanaura will search for the wrong track. Copy-paste from your distributor dashboard when possible.
- One ISRC per recording. If you are adding a deluxe edition with bonus tracks, each new track needs its own ISRC.
- UPC is nice to have, not need to have. Focus on getting your ISRC right — that is what powers the magic.
Next Steps
- Adding a Music Release — The full walkthrough of the Add Track wizard
- Streaming Links — How automatic link fetching works
- Pre-Save Campaigns — The complete pre-save lifecycle