ISRC (International Standard Recording Code)
There is a difference between an ISRC code and a UPC!
Plan on making money through digital sales of individual tracks of your music, you are going to need an ISRC code. An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a unique 12-character alphanumeric ‘digital fingerprint’ that stays with an individual recorded track forever, regardless of any changes in ownership of the track. ISRC’s are added to the recording during the mastering stage, or at the encoding stage by whichever digital aggregator/distributor you are using to deliver your recorded content to the ISRC codes are used to trace sales of single tracks through digital distribution outlets like Napster, Music Match, iTunes and others. l as well as help to trace the owner of a recording who is owed royalties when their recording s used by Internet and Satellite radio.
Sample:
ISRC US- G43 – 07 – 52483 (4) parts
(1) Country Code: The registrant’s (sound recording copyright owner) country (2 characters).
(2) Registrant Code: The code of the registrant that allocated the ISRC (3 characters).
(3) Year Of Reference Code: The year in which the ISRC is allocated to the recording (2 characters).
(4) The code assigned to the track by the registrant. This code may not be repeated within the same calendar year (5 characters).
A UPC (Universal Product Code or Barcode) represents the entire digital product, as opposed to just an individual digital track. UPC codes are typically found on the back of the sound recording’s physical packaging, and are used by brick and mortar retailers and online outlets to gather and track sales information for the entire product. Soundscan compiles UPC sales data from thousands of retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada (as well as sales from artists on tour) to compile its weekly list of music sales.
You can apply for your ISRC code from the https://www.usisrc.org
WHAT IS THE RIAA:
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry. Its mission is to foster a business and legal climate that supports and promotes our members’ creative and financial vitality. Its members are the record companies that comprise the most vibrant national music industry in the world. RIAA members create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 90% of all legitimate sound recordings produced and sold in the United States.
In support of this mission, the RIAA works to protect intellectual property rights worldwide and the First Amendment rights of artists; conducts consumer, industry and technical research; and monitors and reviews state and federal laws, regulations and policies. (About RIAA from website).
The RIAA certifies Gold , Platinum , Multi-Platinum , and Diamond sales awards
The RIAA is the organization that issues the gold and Platinum plaques you see on the walls of record companies and artist walls.
In 1958 the RIAA launched the Gold and Platinum Awards program to measure the sales of albums in the recording industry.
Gold Award is for the sales of 500,000 albums sold.
Platinum Award is for the sales of 1,000,000 albums sold.
Diamond Award is for the sales of 10 million albums sold.
Click Here: to view which artist has been awarded which award.
World Certifications Award Levels
Standard Ring tone License Terms
Los Premios De Oro y Platino an award celebrating Latin music sales.
Los Premios De Oro y Platino Awards program is based on album or single certifications, which are determined by U.S. manufacturers’ shipments to retailers, net after returns. The criteria for certifications is as follows: 100,000 units for a Disco De Oro award; 200,000 units for a Disco De Platino award and 400,000 units or more for a Multi-Platino award. To be eligible for this award, sound recordings must contain more than 50% Spanish language content.
For more info on this subject contact:
Jonathan Lamy
Cara Duckworth
Liz Kennedy
-1-202-775-0101
List of Distributed Labels of Reporting Companies- RIAA Members
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Freedom Of Speech – History
Freedom Of Speech – Current Issues
RIAA Address:
1025 F ST N.W., 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20004
Phone# 1-202-775-0101
Official website for the RIAA: www.riaa.com