International Standard Recording Code - Format

Format

ISRC codes are always 12 characters long, in the form "CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN" (The hyphens are not part of the ISRC code itself, but codes are often presented that way in print to make them easier to read.) The four parts are as follows:

• "CC" is the appropriate for the registrant two-character ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code
• "XXX" is a three character alphanumeric registrant code, uniquely identifying the organization which registered the code. Typically, the appropriate regulating body in each country will issue a three letter code to each record label. For example, the regulating body for ISRCs in the UK is Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL). Note that high demand for ISRCs within the United States has caused the supply of available registrant codes to become exhausted; after December 6, 2010, new registrants in the U.S. use country code "QM" (a private-use code under ISO 3166).

• "YY" is the last two digits of the year of registration (NB not necessarily the date the recording was made)
• "NNNNN" is a unique 5-digit number identifying the particular sound recording.

An example, a recording of the song "Enquanto Houver Sol" by the Brazilian group Titãs has been allocated the ISRC code BRBMG0300729:

• BR for Brazil
• BMG for BMG
• 03 for 2003
• 00729 is the unique id identifying this particular recording

Another example: USPR37300012 - a recording of the song "Love's Theme" by the Love Unlimited Orchestra.

• US for United States
• PR3 for the organization
• 73 for 1973
• 00012 is the unique id identifying this particular recording

The Red Book CD digital audio standard enables the encoding of ISRCs onto CDs.