ISRC vs. UPC — What Each Code Does
The two codes on every release, what they identify, who issues them, and where they go in Vandall.
In short
- ISRC identifies the recording. UPC identifies the release.
- ISRCs come from your PRO or distributor; UPCs usually from your distributor.
- In Vandall: ISRC has a dedicated field; UPC is added as a custom metadata field.
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ISRC identifies a recording
The International Standard Recording Code identifies one specific audio recording. A remix has a different ISRC from the original, even if the song is the same. Format: two country letters + three alphanumeric + two year digits + five serial digits, e.g. USRC17607839.
- Same recording on a single and later on a compilation = same ISRC.
- Remix, re-record, or live version = different ISRC.
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UPC identifies a release
The Universal Product Code (also called EAN or barcode) identifies the release — the single, EP, or album as a product. If you release the same recording on a single and later on an album, the ISRC stays the same but the UPC differs.
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Who issues them
ISRCs are issued by your national ISRC agency (e.g. RIAA in the US, PPL in the UK) or assigned by your distributor on request. UPCs come from GS1 or, more commonly, are auto-assigned by distributors like DistroKid, CD Baby, or TuneCore.
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Where they go in Vandall
ISRC has a dedicated field on the Metadata tab of every project — enter it when you receive it from your distributor. UPC isn't a default field; add it as a custom metadata field in Settings > Metadata Fields if you track it.
Tips
- If you don't have an ISRC yet, leave it blank and fill it when the distributor assigns one. Submitting with an invalid ISRC gets a release bounced.
- One UPC can hold many ISRCs (an album). One ISRC can appear under many UPCs (singles reissued on compilations).
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