isrc vs iswc

[guest4254]

I must have been hibernating for a few years as I recently found out about the ISWC code, as opposed to the ISRC code used by PROs. When did ISWC become a thing and what's the difference between the two?

Harry

[cosmicdolphin]

The ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code) and ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) are both used in the music industry but serve different purposes. Here's a summary of the key points about each code and their differences:

ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code)
Purpose: Identifies musical works (compositions, including lyrics and melodies).
Format: T followed by 9 digits and a check digit (e.g., T-345246800-1).
Introduced: The concept of ISWC was introduced in 1995 by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC).
Use: Assigned to musical works to facilitate the identification and management of rights, ensuring composers, lyricists, and publishers receive appropriate royalties.
Assigned by: Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) and other music rights management organizations.

ISRC (International Standard Recording Code)
Purpose: Identifies sound recordings and music video recordings.
Format: 12 characters (e.g., US-ABC-12-12345), where the first two characters represent the country, the next three characters represent the registrant code, the next two characters represent the year of reference, and the final five characters represent the designation code.
Introduced: Developed in 1986 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Use: Used for the identification of individual sound recordings and music videos, helping to manage and track royalties for recordings.
Assigned by: Typically assigned by record labels or independent artists when they create a recording.

Key Differences
Scope: ISWC is used for compositions, while ISRC is used for recordings.
Assignment: ISWC is assigned by PROs, ISRC is usually assigned by record labels or artists.
Format: ISWC has a specific format with a 'T' prefix, while ISRC follows a different alphanumeric format.
Function: ISWC ensures the correct attribution and royalties for composers and songwriters, whereas ISRC ensures royalties for performers and producers of recordings.

Historical Context
The ISWC was officially introduced in 1995, making it a relatively recent development compared to the ISRC, which has been in use since 1986. The development of ISWC by CISAC was part of efforts to standardize the identification of musical works globally, facilitating more efficient rights management and royalty distribution.

In summary, the ISWC and ISRC serve complementary roles in the music industry, with one focusing on compositions and the other on recordings, each critical for the accurate management of music rights and royalties.

[Casey H]

Great explanation, Mark.

Also, a recent Taxi TV with Michael Eames (about the MLC) explains a lot of this very well.

Best,
Casey

[cosmicdolphin]

Great explanation, Mark.

Chat GPT FTW

[Casey H]

Great explanation, Mark.

Chat GPT FTW

What do we need YOU for anymore?

[cosmicdolphin]

What do we need YOU for anymore?

Makes a change from telling people to Google things

[guest4254]

Thanks for that info! My next stop is logging in to my ASCAP account and see what I've been missing!