[Udated September 2023]

Do you want to get paid every time your music gets played?

Does a bear crap in the woods?

After recording your music, embedding ISRC codes on your mp3 file is one of the first steps to ensuring you get paid when your song gets played on the radio.

This guide will cover the following.

Let's get started.

What is an ISRC Code

ISRC Stands for International Standard Recording Code.

Why you need an ISRC Code

In a nutshell, an ISRC code is unique to you and is embedded in your songs (and videos).

This code tells download sites and collection services that you are the rights holder and the one who gets credit and/or paid when the song is downloaded on sites like iTunes or played on the radio or Pandora.

Once they know who you are they can show you their gratitude by throwing some money your way.

ISRC Code example

Here is an ISRC code format example and a breakdown of what each part means.

USB7P1300001

This is for my tune “Brown Boots” which was the first song I released in 2013.

Here’s how the format breaks down:

USB7P is the portion ofthe code that is unique to me and only me. Kind of like my music DNA.

13 is the year that the track was released.

00001 is the number of the track. This happens to be my first release of that year and the first song on my album that year. Each song after that is 00002 then the next is 00003, etc. I think you get the idea.

>>> When your codes are set, click here to get my submission checklist and ebook to get more fans, create buzz, & make sales <<<

ISRC Code cost

Getting set-up with a code is $80. It is a one time fee which allows you to assign 100,000 codes per year (good luck using that up) for the rest of your life.

Sounds like a lot but it is a small investment if you consider how much you could make if your track blows up.

You can get your ISRC code and learn WAY more about them here:

Installing and Embedding ISRC codes

As simple as this is, I am surprised at how much I had to dig around to figure it out.

Luck for you, I did all the hard work for you.

Here is how I embed ISRC Codes in my mp3's.

Watch the video to look over my shoulder.

[Update: a lot of DAW's can be used for embedding isrc codes. Check the user guides to see if yours does. If it does, great, skip this.]

Here are the steps to embedding ISRC Codes:

1. Get Your ISRC Code – https://www.usisrc.org/ (store them in a spreadsheet or doc file somewhere safe because you will be using part of the code indefinitely with each new song)
2. Download MP3tag Software – http://www.mp3tag.de/en/download.html (note: some production and mastering software allow you to add this information this from inside the software. If you do your own production check your first. might save you some time.)
3. Open MP3Tag and located track
4. Right Click on file and choose “Extended Tags” from menu
5. Click on “Add Field” button
6. Enter the code into the field and save
7. BONUS: Figure out where you are going to submit your music so that it is making you money

Last Word

Ok, there you have it. Your tracks are now embedded with an ISRC Code. Now everyone will know that you are the one they need to pay.

Now, you just need to figure out how to spread that sucker far and wide so that it gets downloaded and played. For more on that, check out my “Sell More Singles Ebook”.

Otherwise, good luck with the release.