How to Generate Your Own ISRC Codes

Yes, you can generate your own ISRC codes — but only if you register to become an ISRC Manager (Registrant) through your national ISRC agency.

Here’s how it works:

What is an ISRC?

An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a unique identifier assigned to each individual recording (not to an album, but each song or version of a song).

Option 1: Register as an ISRC Manager

To generate your own ISRC codes, you need to:

1. Apply for a Registrant Code from your country’s ISRC agency (in the U.S., this is the RIAA via usisrc.org).
2. Once approved, you get a Registrant Code (like US-ABC).
3. You then create your full ISRCs using this format:

Country Code + Registrant Code + Year + Designation Code
Example: US-ABC-24-00001

4. You assign a unique ISRC to every distinct recording you release.

Pros:

• Full control over your codes
• Useful for labels or artists with many releases

Option 2: Use a Distributor

If you don’t want to manage ISRCs yourself, you can:

• Use a digital distributor (like DistroKid, CD Baby, TuneCore)
• They’ll generate ISRCs for you when you upload your music

Note: You still own the ISRCs they assign to your recordings.

Should You Get Your Own Codes?

If you’re:

• Releasing a lot of music
• Running your own label
• Managing multiple artists

…then yes, it’s worth becoming your own ISRC manager.

Otherwise, it’s fine to let your distributor assign them.

What If I Only Release Music On Bandcamp, My Website and Internet Archive

Yes — registering your own ISRC codes can still make sense even if you’re a label that only releases music on Bandcamp, Your Website or Archive.org, but it depends on your goals. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:

Why You Might Want Your Own ISRCs:

1. Professional Metadata & Catalog Control
   Even on Bandcamp or Archive.org, ISRCs allow you to catalog each recording uniquely and consistently. This is useful for archival, sync licensing, royalty tracking, or future distribution elsewhere.
2. Future-Proofing
   You may later want to:
   • Release to streaming platforms
   • Submit to licensing libraries
   • Register your recordings with a performance rights organization (PRO) like BMI or ASCAP
     These often require or benefit from having proper ISRCs already assigned.
3. You’re Building a Label Catalog
   As a label, having your own ISRC structure makes your catalog more standardized, even if it’s just for internal or archival purposes. This gives you flexibility down the line.
4. Grants, Sync, or Copyright Applications
   Some funding bodies, legal registrations, or sync agents like seeing proper ISRCs as a sign of professionalism.

Why You Might Not Need Them:

1. No Interest in Streaming, Licensing, or Monetization
   If your releases are purely for free/donation-based listening and you don’t plan to enter any commercial systems, ISRCs might not add real value.
2. Bandcamp Doesn’t Require Them
   Bandcamp doesn’t use ISRCs for anything—it doesn’t report to SoundScan or PROs.
3. Archive.org is Metadata-Flexible
   Archive.org doesn’t rely on ISRCs either, and custom metadata fields can be used instead for cataloging.

Recommendation

If you’re:

• Treating your label seriously as an archive or long-term project
• Releasing other people’s work and want to catalog it cleanly
• Potentially using your music in other channels someday

Then yes, registering for your own ISRCs is worth it.

It’s a one-time process and free in most countries (including the U.S.).
You’ll then have a personal Registrant Code for life and can assign codes yourself forever.