What happens if I use wrong ISRC or UPC codes?

Duplicate ISRCs may cause royalties to be split or misdirected. Wrong ISRCs may credit your streams to someone else. Missing codes may cause platforms to reject your release.

How do I find my existing ISRC codes?

Check your previous distributor's dashboard, or look up your music on ISRC lookup sites like ISRC.soundexchange.com.

ISRC and UPC Codes Explained

Q: Can I use the same ISRC if I re-release a track?

Yes, if the audio is identical. Using the same ISRC links the new release to your existing stream counts and playlist placements.

These codes are your music’s unique fingerprints. They ensure you get credited and paid for every stream and sale.

What Are These Codes?

Every piece of released music needs unique identifiers so platforms can track it correctly. Think of them like:

ISRC: A social security number for each individual track
UPC: A barcode for your entire release (single, EP, or album)

In simple terms: ISRC identifies your song, UPC identifies your release package.

Why Do They Matter?

Without these codes, platforms can’t:

Track your streams: No code = no data = no royalties
Credit you properly: Your music might get mixed up with someone else’s
Pay you accurately: Royalty organizations use these codes to route payments
Chart your music: Billboard and other charts rely on these identifiers

ISRC: International Standard Recording Code

What It Is

An ISRC is a 12-character code that uniquely identifies a specific recording. It stays with that recording forever, even if it appears on multiple releases.

Format

US-ABC-24-12345
│  │   │  │
│  │   │  └── Unique number (5 digits)
│  │   └───── Year of assignment (2 digits)
│  └───────── Registrant code (3 characters)
└──────────── Country code (2 characters)

Example: USRC12345678

Key Rules

Rule	Explanation
One per recording	Each unique recording gets its own ISRC
Permanent	Once assigned, an ISRC never changes
Locked after distribution	Cannot be changed once your release is distributed (see Validation and Review)
New for remixes	A remix is a new recording, so it needs a new ISRC
Reuse across releases	Same track on an album and a single uses the same ISRC

When You Need a New ISRC

You need a new ISRC when:

Recording a new song
Creating a remix or new version
Re-recording an existing song
Changing the audio in any significant way

You use the same ISRC when:

Putting the same track on a different release
Distributing to additional platforms
Re-releasing without audio changes

UPC: Universal Product Code

What It Is

A UPC (or EAN in Europe) is a 12-13 digit barcode number that identifies your release as a product. Every single, EP, and album needs one.

Format

123456789012
│     │    │
│     │    └── Check digit
│     └─────── Product number
└───────────── Company prefix

Example: 0123456789012 (UPC) or 5012345678901 (EAN)

Key Rules

Rule	Explanation
One per release	Each release (single, EP, album) gets its own UPC
New for re-releases	Deluxe editions or re-releases need new UPCs
Format specific	Digital and physical versions often use different UPCs

LabelGrid Handles It

Good news: LabelGrid automatically assigns both codes when you create a release.

ISRC codes: Automatically generated for each track
UPC codes: Automatically generated for each release

You don’t need to purchase or register codes yourself unless you have specific requirements.

Bringing Your Own Codes

Already have codes from another distributor? You can enter them manually:

During release creation, look for the “Use existing code” option
Enter your existing ISRC for each track
Enter your existing UPC for the release

Important: Never reuse codes from one recording on a different recording. This causes tracking errors and royalty problems.

Common Questions

Do I need to buy my own codes?

No. LabelGrid provides ISRC and UPC codes at no extra cost. These codes are yours to keep, even if you switch distributors later.

What if I already have codes from another distributor?

Use them! Enter your existing codes during release creation. This maintains continuity in your streaming history and charts.

Can I use the same ISRC if I re-release a track?

Yes, if the audio is identical. Using the same ISRC links the new release to your existing stream counts and playlist placements.

What happens if I use wrong codes?

Duplicate ISRCs: Royalties may be split or misdirected
Wrong ISRC: Your streams may credit someone else
Missing codes: Platforms may not accept your release

How do I find my existing codes?

Check your previous distributor’s dashboard, or look up your music on sites like ISRC.soundexchange.com.

Examples

Example 1: Releasing a Single

You release “Summer Nights” as a single:

Track ISRC: USRC12400001 (assigned to the recording)
Release UPC: 0123456789012 (assigned to the single)

Example 2: Adding That Single to an Album

Later, you include “Summer Nights” on your album “Beach Vibes”:

Track ISRC: USRC12400001 (same code - same recording)
Album UPC: 0123456789029 (new code - different release)

Example 3: Creating a Remix

You release a remix of “Summer Nights”:

Original ISRC: USRC12400001 (the original recording)
Remix ISRC: USRC12400015 (new code - different recording)
Remix Single UPC: 0123456789036 (new code - new release)

Quick Reference

Scenario	ISRC	UPC
New song	New	New
Remix of existing song	New	New
Same track on different release	Same	New
Re-release with same audio	Same	New (or same if identical product)
Instrumental version	New	New
Live version	New	New

What’s Next?

Now that you understand music codes, you can:

Create your first release - Put your knowledge into action
Creating a Release - Complete your release information

Deep Dive (Advanced)

For labels managing large catalogs and technical integrations.

ISRC Registration

While LabelGrid provides codes, labels can become ISRC registrants directly:

US: Register through RIAA (usisrc.org)
UK: Register through PPL
Other countries: Contact your national ISRC agency

Having your own registrant code means:

Consistent prefix across all your releases
Direct control over code assignment
Required for some sync licensing deals

UPC/EAN Procurement

Labels can purchase UPC prefixes from GS1:

Single codes: ~$30 each
Company prefix: $250+ for 10-100,000 codes
Benefits: Consistent branding, physical product compatibility

DDEX and Code Standards

When delivering via DDEX:

ISRCs must follow ISO 3901 format
UPCs/EANs must follow GS1 standards
Invalid codes cause delivery rejections

Historical Code Lookup

For catalog migrations, use:

SoundExchange ISRC Database: isrc.soundexchange.com
Spotify’s Search: Shows ISRCs in track metadata
Previous distributor exports: Request full catalog data including codes