In addition to the music on your CD or digital file, there is certain information that travels with your music to identify your song, and provide a way to keep track of how many copies of your track or album have sold. This information is known as metadata. One of the most important pieces of metadata is your ISRC code.

An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a unique 12-character alphanumeric “digital fingerprint” that stays with an individual recorded track forever, regardless of any changes in ownership of the track. ISRCs are added to the recording during the mastering stage, or at the encoding stage by whichever digital aggregator/distributor you are using to deliver your recorded content to the retailer.

ISRC codes are used to trace sales of single tracks through digital distribution outlets like iTunes, as well as help to trace the owner of a recording who is owed royalties when their recording is used by Internet and satellite radio.

A UPC (Universal Product Code or Barcode) represents the entire digital product, as opposed to just an individual digital track. UPC codes are also found on the back of the sound recording’s physical packaging, and are used by both brick-and-mortar retailers and online outlets to gather and track sales information for the entire product. Soundscan compiles UPC sales data from thousands of physical and digital retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada (as well as sales from artists on tour) to compile its weekly list of music sales. These reports are an important ingredient in the weekly Billboard charts, and also factor into many A&R departments’ decisions to sign an artist.

You can apply for an ISRC code from the RIAA. Bar codes are a bit trickier. It is possible for you to register as a company and receive your own UPC prefix from the UCC (Uniform Code Council), but it is probably not cost effective. An easier way for an independent artist to get a bar code is to work with a distributor that has already purchased a company code, and can provide (free or for a small fee) UPC barcodes to the albums they are distributing.