Identifiers
ISWC
An ISWC is the unique code that identifies a musical composition (the song itself) across every recording of it.
Where this sits
ISWC
- Distribution
- Broadcast
- Publishing
- Performance
The International Standard Musical Work Code (ISWC) identifies a composition: the underlying song (its melody and lyrics), no matter how many times it's recorded. It's the code the publishing side runs on: performance and mechanical royalties get matched to the correct writers and publishers through the ISWC.
Good to know
ISWC: common questions
- Do I need an ISWC if I already have an ISRC?
- Yes. They identify different things. The ISRC is for your recording; the ISWC is for the composition, and the entire publishing side depends on it.
- Who assigns my ISWC?
- Your PRO or the ISWC agency assigns it when the composition is registered. Notes handles this as part of registering your songs.
- Can one song have more than one ISWC?
- It shouldn't. Duplicate ISWCs split a composition's royalties across two records so neither matches cleanly. Resolving duplicates is part of getting unclaimed publishing money paid.