ISRC Codes

OK, you buy a new album and insert the CD to your computer. itunes opens the disc and automatically knows the album title, artist name and track names. How is this done.

Well the explanation is ISRC codes. First you must register all your tracks with an ISRC agency. In the UK this is carried out by PPL (phonographic performance limited) www.ppluk.com. A set of ISRC codes are issued and logged on the catco database. The ISRC codes can then be added to your master at the PMCD pre mastering stage. During CD replication manufacture these codes are copied to all your replicated CDs.

Applications such as itunes read the ISRC codes and reference them against on line databases. This then enables all registered information related to the album or songs to be displayed.

The main reason for ISRC is not just so itunes will display your song information. The main reason behind ISRC is for accurate airplay data identification. Every time a song is played on radio or TV the ISRC code can be automatically read and logged to a computer system to help royalty collection agencies distribute accurate airplay royalties back the artist.