If you’ve ever released music or plan to you’ve probably heard of International Standard Recording Codes (ISRCs). These 12-character identifiers act like digital barcodes for audio and music-video recordings. Digital services and collecting societies use them to track plays and allocate royalties.

In the U.S., the national authority for ISRCs isn’t a private distributor it’s the U.S. ISRC Agency, a division of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Any artist, label, or content creator can apply for a Rights Owner Prefix (the unique registrant portion of every ISRC) regardless of RIAA membership. Once assigned, that prefix allows you to create up to 100,000 unique ISRCs per year and it’s yours for life.

A Brief History of ISRCs

• 1980s origins: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the ISRC standard (ISO 3901) in 1986. Soon after, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) recommended ISRCs for sound recordings and music videos.
• Registration authority: In 1989, ISO designated IFPI as the registration authority, which then delegated administration to national agencies like the RIAA in the U.S. By 1991, detailed assignment rules were in place, cementing ISRCs as the global standard.
• Expanded U.S. codes: With the explosive growth of digital catalogs, the U.S. introduced new prefixes (QM, QZ, QT) in 2010 to handle demand.
• Modern alignment: In 2020, the RIAA designated SoundExchange as the authoritative source for ISRC data. This aligned the system with the Music Modernization Act and improved royalty accuracy across platforms.

How to Apply for an ISRC Prefix

1. Decide if it’s right for you
   If you own or control your recordings and plan to release multiple singles, EPs, or albums, applying for your own prefix gives you long-term control. Musicians, indie labels, podcasters, and filmmakers are all eligible.
2. Apply online
   Visit usisrc.org and complete the short online form. The U.S. ISRC Agency charges a one-time $95 administrative fee there are no renewals or annual costs.
3. Receive your prefix
   You’ll get a five-character Rights Owner Prefix (e.g., US-XYZ), which you can use to generate up to 100,000 ISRCs per year.
4. Assign ISRCs to your recordings
   Each code is structured with a country code (US, QM, QZ, etc.), your prefix, the year, and a unique five-digit designation. Assign a new ISRC for each new recording or version (such as a remix, radio edit, or video). Once assigned, the ISRC never changes, even if ownership does.
5. Keep records and register
   The Agency doesn’t track sales or metadata, so you must maintain your own records. They do offer an optional locker service, but it’s also wise to register your recordings with SoundExchange to ensure proper royalty collection.

Benefits of Having Your Own Prefix

While distributors like DistroKid or CD Baby often provide free ISRCs, owning your prefix has clear advantages:

• Control and flexibility: Assign codes on your own schedule, independent of any distributor.
• Consistency: Maintain a unified prefix across all releases, even if you change distributors or re-release catalog tracks.
• Lifetime ownership: After the one-time $95 payment, there are no per-track fees.
• Professional management: Catalog managers and serious artists often prefer having their own prefix for better metadata accuracy.
• Future-proofing: Avoid messy reassignments later in your career.

When Using a Distributor’s Codes Makes Sense

If you’re releasing just a few songs, testing the waters, or not interested in managing metadata, letting your distributor assign ISRCs is perfectly fine. Just be aware: if you switch distributors in the future, you may need to replace those codes, which can complicate royalty tracking.

The Mission of the U.S. ISRC Agency

The Agency’s role goes beyond simply handing out codes:

• Standardization: They enforce global standards that ensure musicians and rights holders get paid accurately.
• Accessibility: Anyone can apply for a prefix, regardless of RIAA membership, genre, or label size.
• Education and support: Fees help fund training, system maintenance, and collaboration with SoundExchange and international standards bodies.

Final Thoughts

Owning your ISRC prefix is one of those small moves that can pay off big over time. For just $95, you gain control, flexibility, and consistency across your catalog. If you’re experimenting or only plan a handful of releases, distributor codes work fine just understand the limitations.

Whichever route you take, the most important thing is that every release has a unique ISRC and well-kept records. That way, when your music is streamed, broadcast, or licensed, your royalties find their way home.