{"id":4519,"date":"2026-09-21T09:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T09:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/radar\/?p=4519"},"modified":"2026-09-21T09:19:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T09:19:15","slug":"can-someone-steal-your-isrc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/radar\/can-someone-steal-your-isrc\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Someone Steal Your ISRC?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An ISRC is supposed to identify a particular sound recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But what happens if somebody else uses yours?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The question has become particularly relevant following recent industry discussion about so-called \u201cISRC theft\u201d \u2014 where an uploader submits music using an identifier associated with somebody else&#8217;s recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s what artists need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is an ISRC?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An International Standard Recording Code identifies a specific recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of it as a permanent identifier for the master rather than the song title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An ISRC can help DSPs, distributors and rights companies connect activity with the correct recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can somebody copy your ISRC?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Technically, somebody can obtain an existing ISRC and enter it when submitting metadata through a system that allows user-supplied ISRCs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That does not make them the owner of the recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An ISRC is an identifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is not proof of copyright ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem arises when somebody combines an existing identifier with unauthorised audio or misleading metadata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why would someone use another recording&#8217;s ISRC?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Possible reasons include attempting to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>make a fake recording look legitimate;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>interfere with metadata;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>impersonate another artist;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>redirect or confuse royalties;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>connect an unauthorised version with an established recording.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever the motivation, artists should take unexpected ISRC usage seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you find your ISRC?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your distributor should provide the ISRC assigned to each recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep a permanent catalogue record containing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>track title;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>artist;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ISRC;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UPC;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>master owner;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>release date;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>distributor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not rely entirely on one distributor dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if you find your ISRC on another recording?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, gather evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Save:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>links to the incorrect release;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>screenshots;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>your original ISRC record;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>original master files;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>distribution history;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>contracts or ownership documentation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then contact your distributor and the relevant streaming platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Explain clearly that the ISRC belongs to your recording and identify the disputed release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does the ISRC prove you own the music?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An ISRC identifies a recording but does not itself establish ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Useful ownership evidence can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>recording agreements;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>studio files;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>dated masters;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>producer agreements;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>label agreements;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>distribution history;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>copyright registrations where applicable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should you reuse your ISRC when changing distributors?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Normally, when moving the exact same recording between distributors, retaining its existing ISRC can help preserve the recording&#8217;s identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is legitimate reuse because it remains the same recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using somebody else&#8217;s ISRC on unrelated audio is entirely different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep a catalogue database<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even small independent artists should maintain a spreadsheet containing every release and identifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As your catalogue grows, those records become increasingly valuable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An ISRC is not a password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone knowing your code does not suddenly give them ownership of your master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But incorrect or fraudulent use can create serious metadata and rights problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep your catalogue records organised and investigate any release that appears to be using your identifiers without permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An ISRC is supposed to identify a particular sound recording. But what happens if somebody else uses yours? The question has become particularly relevant following recent industry discussion about so-called \u201cISRC theft\u201d \u2014 where an uploader submits music using an identifier associated with somebody else&#8217;s recording. Here&#8217;s what artists need to know. What is an ISRC? An International Standard Recording Code identifies a specific recording. Think of it as a permanent identifier for the master rather than the song title. An ISRC can help DSPs, distributors and rights companies connect activity with the correct recording. Can somebody copy your ISRC?&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4520,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1846,1844,31],"coauthors":[2],"class_list":["post-4519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-code","tag-isrc","tag-music-distribution"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Can Someone Steal Your ISRC? - RouteNote - Radar<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/routenote.com\/radar\/can-someone-steal-your-isrc\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can Someone Steal Your ISRC? - RouteNote - Radar\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"An ISRC is supposed to identify a particular sound recording. 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