The short version
ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) identifies a specific sound recording. ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code) identifies the underlying composition — melody and lyrics. A cover version of your song gets a new ISRC but keeps the song's ISWC.
Who issues ISRC in India
The national ISRC agency for India is The Indian Music Industry (IMI), listed by IFPI's agency directory with the contact [email protected]. IMI allocates a registrant code (prefix) to the producer/owner of recordings; the registrant then assigns individual ISRCs to each track.
How an ISRC is built
IMI's own example is IN-K40-14-00212:
- IN — country code of the agency that issued the prefix (not the recording's origin)
- K40 — three-character registrant code
- 14 — last two digits of the year the code was assigned
- 00212 — five-digit designation code, unique within that year
Rules worth remembering from IMI: one recording = one ISRC; do not reissue a new ISRC when ownership changes; a remix, edit or live version is a different recording and needs its own.
Do you need your own prefix?
Most self-releasing artists get ISRCs automatically from their distributor (see our distributor comparison). Applying for your own prefix makes sense if you release often or run a small label. IMI's apply page lists: Form 1 (applicant registration), Form 2 (digital-release-only), a request letter, PAN and address proof, and entity documents (MoA/AoA for companies, partnership deed for partnerships). The digital-release form states IMI currently levies no fee, while reserving the right to add one. Check the current forms on indianmi.org before applying.
ISWC: the song's code
ISWCs are allocated through the CISAC-run ISWC system, normally via the collecting society or publisher that registers the work. In India that usually means registering your compositions with IPRS — see how to register with IPRS. You generally don't apply for an ISWC yourself.
Why this matters for money
- Streaming services and distributors report sales and plays by ISRC.
- Societies match performance and mechanical income by work registrations and ISWC.
- Clean writer splits (see split sheets) plus correct codes are what let YouTube, Spotify and societies pay the right people.
Checklist before release
- Every final master has exactly one ISRC.
- Writer names and splits are agreed in writing.
- The work is registered with your society so an ISWC can follow.
- Keep a spreadsheet: title, ISRC, ISWC, writers, splits, release date.
Related: Indian music industry glossary, who owns your masters.
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