ISRC and UPC codes are industry-standard identifiers used to track and manage your music across platforms and stores. They help ensure your releases are properly cataloged, credited, and monetized. These codes are essential for professional music distribution and proper royalty accounting.
When you distribute music through LANDR, both ISRC and UPC codes are automatically generated for your release at no additional cost. If you already have your ISRC code, you can enter it manually (it is not possible to enter your own UPC code; see below for details).
ISRC (International Standard Recording Code)
An ISRC is a unique identifier assigned to each individual audio or video recording. Think of it like a fingerprint for a specific track.
- Each version of a song (e.g., original, radio edit, remix) gets its own ISRC
- Used to track plays, streams, and sales on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube
- Essential for collecting royalties and reporting usage
Example: US-ABC-23-00001
Note: When migrating your catalogue to LANDR from another distributor, your tracks will need to use the same ISRCs that they were previously assigned. If your music was previously released on Spotify and/or Apple Music, this ISRC will be auto-filled when you use our importer tool.
UPC (Universal Product Code)
A UPC identifies a release as a whole — such as a single, EP, or album.
- One UPC per distributed release (not per track)
- Used by digital stores to organize and display your release correctly
- Helps link your tracks under one product for reporting and sales tracking
Example: 123456789012
Note: Unlike ISRCs, a new UPC is generated for every new release, even if you’re migrating releases from a previous distributor.
Where can I find my UPC and ISRC codes?
From your distribution dashboard, click on “My releases”, then click the “Manage” button on the release whose UPC/ISRC codes you’d like to find.
The UPC code will appear under “Release Info”.
Your ISRC can be found under “Tracks”, to the left-hand side of “Release Info”.
Note: ISRC's are made up of letters and numbers.
Can I use my ISRCs to release the same track on more than one release?
Yes, you can reuse an existing ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) to include the exact same track on multiple releases — as long as the audio file and metadata remain unchanged. This is ideal for reusing singles on albums, compilations, or greatest hits collections.
You can reuse an ISRC if:
- The audio file is identical to the original release
- The track-level metadata (title, artist name, contributors, etc.) has not been altered in any way
If the track has been edited, remastered, renamed, or re-credited, it is considered a new recording and must be assigned a new ISRC.
How to reuse an existing ISRC with LANDR:
- Create a new release in your LANDR dashboard
- Add your previously released track from your LANDR Library
- Look for the CD icon with a check mark — it indicates previously released tracks
- The original ISRC and metadata will auto-fill and cannot be changed
- This is required to meet the store’s guidelines for reusing ISRCs
- You can still edit release-level details like artwork, release title, or genre
Important: Only keep one version of the release in your drafts. If you have multiple drafts of the same release, it may prevent the system from reusing the ISRC properly.
Best use cases for reusing ISRCs:
- Including a single on an album or EP
- Releasing a collection of past singles as a mixtape or compilation
- Creating a “Greatest Hits” or anthology
If you need to change anything about the track — audio or metadata — you’ll need to create a new version and let LANDR assign a new ISRC. Music platforms do not allow different metadata or audio to be tied to the same ISRC.
Reusing ISRCs ensures continuity for streaming data, analytics, and royalties — as long as the track remains exactly the same.
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