ISRC
The ISRC was developed in order to facilitate the accurate exchange of information on ownership, the use of recordings and to simplify the administration of rights in them. It is a global, unique method of identifying sound and music video recordings.
By identifying all sound and music video recordings that are released, regardless of the format that they are released in, the ISRC enables the tracking and tracing of these recordings through the music value chain. Potential users of sound and music video recordings will also find it easier to obtain information about the current rights owner because repertoire databases will provide this information using ISRC.
The various benefits of obtaining TT-ISRCs, include enhanced data management, concretizing T&T’s music presence on the world stage, and its cost-effectiveness as it is a free tool to manage music catalogs.
The TT-ISRC will help us to track Trinbagonian music. and allow for enhanced royalty management, thereby ensuring that our musicians, producers and songwriters, are identified and subsequently paid. This information will also help major distribution companies recognize the quantity of music being produced by our twin-island Republic and assist in the ‘category’ fight as well.
The ISRC for a recording remains a fixed point of reference when the recording is used across different services, across borders, or under different licensing deals. COTT is the national distributing agency for these codes.
The ISRC is a 12-character alphanumeric Code.
Example: TT-Z03-18-00212
For code allocation purposes, the ISRC is separated into different elements. However, when the code is assigned, it is the whole number that represents the sound or music video recording.
Country Code: This element of the code identifies the country of residence of the Registrant.
Registrant Code: This identifies the entity/person assigning the Designation Code in an ISRC. Since ISRCs are normally assigned at the final production stage (pre-mastering), by the Registrant (Label/Executive Producer), the Registrant Code will normally reflect who the original master rights owner is.
The Registrant Code is the portion of the 12 Characters which is assigned by the National Agency (COTT) to an entity (Label/Executive Producer), who wishes to allocate ISRCs to recordings.
Year of Reference: This element identifies the year in which the ISRC is allocated to the recording (not the year in which the recording was produced).
Designation Code: This element consists of 5 digits which are assigned by the Registrant (Label/Executive Producer). These digits function as a sort of catalog number. The Designation code should be used sequentially.
