Podcast
For those of you who release recorded music, ISRC is an indispensable code. We tell you how Gramo helps you create your very own ISRC in the podcast Musikkkskaperne.
/ 24/10/2023 / Kristian DugstadAnyone who releases recorded music needs an ISRC. The acronym stands for International Standard Recording Code, and it's a unique code that's attached to every recording of music. It's used to ensure that those who own the rights to the recording get paid.
In Norway, it is the organization Gramo which manages the ISRC system. In the latest episode of TONO's podcast, Musikkskaperne, Gramo's Morten Møller is a guest. He is the contact person for everything related to ISRC at Gramo.
The episode is available everywhere you listen to podcasts.
An ISRC is made up of 12 characters. The first five identify the publisher and are called a registrant code. The next two are years, and the last five are up to the publisher to create a system for.
Read more about how an ISRC is structured at Gramo.no.
Gramo is the authorized source of registrant codes in Norway. However, if you use a digital distribution service, such as DistroKid, CD Baby or indiegoboom, they can also assign an ISRC when you release a song.
If you use the distributor's ISRC, the registrant code is linked to the service, and you are assigned the 12-character code every time you release a track. At Gramo, you get a registrant code that is unique to you. With this, you can create an unlimited number of ISRCs on your own.
An ISRC from a distributor and one you have created using your own registrant code are equivalent. However, once you have your own registrant code, you are not dependent on Gramo or the distributor to create new ISRCs. You can also use the codes you create yourself when you release music with online distribution services.
You can either embed the ISRC in the audio itself in a digital file during the mastering process, or add it as metadata when you release the song.
Anyone who owns a recording of music can quickly become a member of Gramo, and will then be offered a unique registrant code. You can then simultaneously register a label to which you link the registrant code – but this is completely voluntary.
A label does not have to be associated with a company, and you do not need to register it anywhere other than in Gramo.
Remember that you can now also link your ISRCs to your TONO-registered works. in the member portal My TONO. This will help us to obtain even better data, which helps to ensure that we settle as precisely as possible.
Want to know more about ISRC, labels, Gramo and recorded music? Listen to the episode of Musikkskaperne with Morten Møller from Gramo.