What is an ISWC?
ISWC, or International Standard Musical Work Code, is an 11-character long code of numbers and letters. This is assigned to a new An original musical composition with or without lyrics. when it’s registered with a Collective Management Organization: An organization that acts collectively on behalf of the rights holders it represents and collects and pays remuneration to rights holders..
Its purpose is to uniquely identify a musical work and link it to the associated core Data that describes other data, for example, information that describes creators, other rights holders, musical works, and sound recordings. including the title, A person who makes an original contribution to the creation of a musical composition or lyrics.’ names, and their Interested Party Information; a unique international identifier for songwriters and music publishers.. The ISWC is then used in databases and data exchange formats where The controls creators or rights holders have over what they have created or produced and over their identity and image. information is added, for example, publishing information and Also sometimes referred to as shares, the portion of ownership a rights holder has or the portion of income they are entitled to.. Having this information makes it easier to track In the context of music, it is used to describe the use of a musical work or sound recording, for example, the type and number of streams or radio plays. and accurately pay you when your musical work is used.
Each unique musical work can only have one unique ISWC code. So even if that musical work has multiple Typically, the recorded performance of a musical work protected as a phonogram under copyright law., there may be multiple International Standard Recording code: a unique identifier for sound recordings. for those sound recordings, but they will all be linked to the one ISWC code assigned to the musical work.
Who is an ISWC for?
An ISWC identifies musical works owned by songwriters and A company that represents songwriters, supporting their career development, monetizing musical works, and protecting copyrights. . It is assigned when they To submit information relating to musical works and sound recordings to an appropriate registration body, for example, copyright ownership information submitted to a Collective Management Organization or copyright office. their musical works with a CMO. It is used throughout the music industry to track usage and accurately pay Anyone who contributes to creating or performing a musical work, a live performance, or a sound recording. and other A person or company that has Intellectual Property Rights in a musical work, performance or sound recording for the use of their musical works.
How do you get an ISWC?
As ISWC Agencies, most CMOs will assign an ISWC, usually as soon as a musical work is registered. You can find a list of ISWC agencies on the ISWC Network website.
There are some minimum descriptive Data that describes other data, for example, information that describes creators, other rights holders, musical works, and sound recordings. requirements for getting an ISWC, but if you have collaborated with other songwriters on a musical work, you must ultimately also have each songwriter’s Interested Party Information: a unique international identifier for songwriters and music publishers. number to register the musical work and be assigned an ISWC.
The descriptive metadata requirements for an ISWC include:
The title of the work
All songwriters of the work identified by their IPI numbers and An identifier associated with a creator's role or type of contribution made, for example, to the creation of a musical work.
In the case of versions, for example An alteration of a pre-existing musical work that may incorporate changes to, for example, tempo, harmony, instrumentation, and orchestration., identification of the original work from which the version was derived.
Visit the ISWC Network website to find out more.
Why is an ISWC important?
The ISWC is how your musical works will be identified in most music industry databases and data exchange formats. It is unique and essential for receiving payments from CMOs and other sources for the use of your musical works. Register and keep track of it; it will be used to link musical works to sound recordings and report plays and income back to you.
Image credit: Martin Fabricius Rasmussen