We're close, so very close, to pressing the first batch of the Kompoz "All Over The Map" CD.  You've heard the expression "the devil is in the details", right?  That's where we are now -- pushing through the details. 

One of those details is making sure each song on the CD has an ISRC.  The ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a unique international identifier for tracks on sound and music-video recordings. Comprised of a 12 character alpha-numeric code, the ISRC functions as a digital "fingerprint" for each track. Unlike a UPC code (a.k.a. bar code) the ISRC is assigned to individual tracks and not the carrier of the tracks (CD, cassette).  The primary purpose of an ISRC is to help identify recordings for royalty payments.

An ISRC is made up of four parts.  For example:

   US-TC5-08-72643

1. The first two characters represent the registrant's country code (US for TuneCore)
2. The second three characters represent the registrant code (TC5 for TuneCore)
3. The next two characters represent the year in which the ISRC is allocated.
4. The last five digits are the code assigned to the track by the registrant

The above code is the one assigned to Redemption, track 13 on the Kompoz CD. (Oops! I gave away one of the tracks!) 

Getting an ISRC is relatively easy.  Services such as TuneCore and CD Baby assign them to you for free.  What's important is to make sure that your tracks are each tagged (in the ID3 or WAV metadata) with the ISRC. 

If you're planning on selling your music through digital retailers (i.e. iTunes, Napster, Amazon/MP3), then having an ISRC is absolutely necessary.  Services like TuneCore and CD Baby will ensure that this is done for you.  But if your mastering your own CD and sending to a service for reproduction, then it will be important to make sure each track on the CD you create includes an ISRC in the "CD Text".  CD burning software such as Roxio's Toast includes input fields for the ISRC (and album UPC code).  With Toast specifically, you have to go to the Preferences panel and enable "advanced options" before the input fields are available. 

All of the tracks on the "All Over The Map" CD will, of course, include an ISRC.  We're in the final days of the mastering phase, and will be sending off the CD for manufacturing and digital distribution this week!  Announcement to follow.