| COMARC/B | September | 2016 |
This field contains an International standard recording code and a qualification which distinguishes between ISCRs when more than one is contained in a record. The ISRC identifies sound recordings and music video recordings and not physical products. There is no conflict with existing product catalogue numbering systems (EAN, publisher’s number) with which it coexists.
A correctly applied ISRC including hyphens. The ISRCs are assigned by the designated agency in each country. Subfield is mandatory unless subfield z is present.
An indication of the scope of the ISRC in subfield a (if present), usually an identification of the relationship of an ISRC to a particular expression.
The ISRC is used to identify an audio, video or audio-visual recording, according to the provisions of ISO 3901.
Each separately available constituent part of a publication must receive its own ISRC. An ISRC consists of twelve digits. Whenever it is printed or written, the number is preceded by the letters ISRC. In countries where the Latin alphabet is not used, an abbreviation in the local script may be used in addition to the Latin letters ISRC.
The ISRC is now divided into four elements, each of which is separated by a hyphen. The former fourth and fifth elements are now one element without hyphen.
Country code: A two-letter country code assigned from ISO 3166-1.
Registrant code: An alphanumeric 3 character code assigned by nominated agencies.
Year of reference: The last two digits of the year in which the ISRC was allocated to the recording.
Designation code: This consists of five digits, assigned by the registrant.
The letters ISRC, which are usually found printed with an ISRC on the item, should not be entered in field 016.
Any ISRC which is found to be wrongly printed on the item can be entered in subfield 016z – Erroneous ISRC.
Hyphens are inserted to separate parts of the ISRC in subfields a and z. No other punctuation is permitted.
In order to distinguish between ISRCs when there is more than one in a record, qualifications may be added to one or more of them.
The field should be repeated for each valid ISRC. It should be repeated for an invalid ISRC unless that invalid ISRC clearly relates to a known valid equivalent entered in the record, in which case the invalid ISRC will be entered in the same field as its corresponding valid ISRC.