> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.fanaura.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# ISRC and UPC Explained

> What ISRC and UPC codes are, where to find them, why they matter for your Fanaura pre-save campaigns, and how they power automatic streaming link fetching.

If you have ever released music through a distributor, you have probably seen these acronyms. They sound technical, but they are actually straightforward — and understanding them unlocks one of Fanaura's most powerful features: automatic streaming link fetching.

***

## ISRC: International Standard Recording Code

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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

    Sometimes you will see it written without dashes: `USABC2412345`. Both formats are valid.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.

    If you are an independent artist using a distributor, you almost certainly already have ISRCs for your released tracks — you may just not have looked them up yet.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Where to Find Your ISRC

Here are the most common places to find your ISRC:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Check Your Distributor's Dashboard">
    Look in the release details or track information section. Every major distributor shows ISRCs.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Spotify for Artists">
    Go to your track, click on it, and look at the track details. The ISRC is listed there.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apple Music for Artists">
    Your ISRC is visible in the track metadata.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Distribution Confirmation Email">
    Many distributors include ISRCs in the email they send when your release is delivered to stores.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>If you cannot find your ISRC, email your distributor's support team. They can look it up in seconds.</Tip>

***

## UPC: Universal Product Code

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Who Assigns It">
    Like ISRCs, your **distributor** assigns your UPC. It is generated automatically when you create a release in their system.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### 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

<Info>
  Here is the key reason these codes matter to you as a Fanaura user: **the ISRC is the key to automatic streaming links.**
</Info>

### The ISRC Powers 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 Fanaura's link resolution service, which maps ISRCs to platform-specific URLs.

Without lifting a finger, Fanaura will find your track on:

| Platform     | Platform    | Platform      |
| ------------ | ----------- | ------------- |
| Spotify      | Apple Music | YouTube Music |
| Amazon Music | Deezer      | Tidal         |
| Pandora      | SoundCloud  | Audiomack     |
| iTunes Store | YouTube     |               |

And your smart link page automatically switches from "Pre-Save" buttons to "Stream Now" buttons with the correct links.

<Warning>**No ISRC = no automatic link fetching.** You can still add links manually, but the ISRC is what makes the magic happen automatically.</Warning>

### 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:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Upload to Distributor (4-8 weeks before release)">
    You get your ISRC and UPC immediately or within a few days.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Your Fanaura Release (3-4 weeks before release)">
    Add your ISRC if you have it, or skip it for now.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### What If You Do Not Have Them Yet

<Note>**Totally fine.** Both ISRC and UPC are optional when creating a release in Fanaura. Your pre-save campaign works perfectly without them.</Note>

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                         |

<Info>The bottom line: **pre-saves always work regardless of ISRC.** The ISRC only matters for the automatic link-fetching feature on release day.</Info>

***

## 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

A comparison panel shows you what was found vs. what you already have, with checkboxes to select which fields to import. This is especially useful if you are adding an older release that is already on streaming platforms.

<Tip>ISRC Lookup is a massive time-saver for back-catalog imports. Enter your ISRC and let Fanaura fill in everything for you.</Tip>

***

## Common Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if I re-record or remaster my song?">
    It gets a new ISRC. The original recording keeps its original ISRC. When an artist re-records an album, for example, the new versions receive completely different ISRCs than the originals.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="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.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Quick Tips

<Tip>**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.</Tip>

<Warning>**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.</Warning>

<Note>**One ISRC per recording.** If you are adding a deluxe edition with bonus tracks, each new track needs its own ISRC.</Note>

<Info>**UPC is nice to have, not need to have.** Focus on getting your ISRC right — that is what powers the magic.</Info>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Add a music asset (pre-save)" icon="compact-disc" href="/assets/music/adding-a-release">
    Step-by-step: ingest your music asset and configure your pre-save campaign.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Streaming Links" icon="link" href="/assets/music/streaming-links">
    How automatic link fetching works.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pre-Save Campaigns" icon="bookmark" href="/assets/music/presave-campaigns">
    The complete pre-save lifecycle.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>