What is an ISWC.

An ISWC, or International Standard Musical Work Code, serves as a distinctive and globally acknowledged reference number. It provides a permanent identification for musical works, allowing organizations worldwide to efficiently monitor and authenticate various details about a composition. In essence, the ISWC acts like a unique passport, differentiating your song or score from all other musical creations across the globe.

What are ISWCs used for?

Securing an ISWC for your work is a crucial step in monitoring the usage of your music and potentially receiving compensation from various industry entities, including P.R.O.’s. When royalties are generated from performances or purchases of recordings featuring your songs or scores, your ISWC plays a key role in enabling collection societies, distributors, digital streaming services, and other organizations to identify and remunerate the rightful recipients.

What makes ISWCs essential?

Although the absence of an ISWC may not directly hinder your payment from a P.R.O. for music performances, associating an ISWC with a work can enhance the chances of capturing a greater number of performances. Additionally, ISWCs play a crucial role in ensuring accurate compensation from other organizations. For instance, when a distributor seeks to remunerate the rightful entities for a digital download of a song, having an ISWC helps streamline the process. A higher degree of consistency and accessibility in your metadata increases the likelihood of receiving proper compensation whenever your music is used or purchased.

Are ISWCs and ISRCs identical?

No, they serve distinct purposes. ISWCs (International Standard Musical Work Code) pertain to the underlying composition, while ISRCs (International Standard Recording Code) identify specific recordings of a composition. A song is associated with a single ISWC, but it can have multiple ISRCs.

ISRCs are particularly useful for pinpointing performances of your music, especially on streaming platforms. Therefore, when registering a new song with a P.R.O., it’s advisable to include ISRCs if available.

What distinguishes an ISWC from an IPI number?

While both ISWCs and Interested Party Information (IPI) numbers are globally recognized codes associated with a musical composition, their roles differ. An ISWC pertains to a specific song or score, whereas IPIs identify the entitled parties involved in that composition—such as songwriters, composers, and publishers. In the case of a song with multiple co-writers, there will be several IPI numbers associated with it, but only one ISWC.