RIAA designates SoudExchange as the ISRC authoritative source in the USA

By Emmanuel Legrand

US labels' trade body the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has designated neighbouring rights society SoundExchange as the authoritative source of International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) data in the United States. ISRCs are use around the world as the leading identifier for sound recordings and music videos.

  RIAA, which represents the three major companies and some independent companies, said it made the designation "to ensure a trusted and authoritative source of ISRC data for the US marketplace, particularly as the implementation of the Music Modernisation Act and the transition to streaming make accurate identification of sound recordings even more critical."

  RIAA added that the designation built on a prior agreement between SoundExchange global trade industry body the IFPI "to provide a publicly accessible ISRC lookup service." IFPI's Chief Technology Officer Richard Gooch said appointing SoundExchange as the authoritative source of ISRCs will "will bring greater certainty within the US."

Efficiency and transparency

  “Due to SoundExchange’s extensive experience and widely respected reputation for efficiency and transparency, RIAA considers the ISRC codes and associated sound recording data held by SoundExchange as authoritative for commercial use in the US marketplace," explained David Hughes, head of technology and standards at RIAA. "Moving forward, everyone should utilise this data."

  For Paul Jessop, Executive Director of the US National ISRC Agency, designating SoundExchange as the authoritative source will help improve the accuracy of ISRCs in the US. "We hope it will lead to more efficient and cost-effective processes for data management and transmission,” said Jessop.

  “Accurate and accessible data is vital to a healthy music industry, and serving as the authoritative source of ISRC data advances SoundExchange’s mission to ensure that music creators are paid accurately and efficiently,” said SoundExchange President & CEO Michael Huppe.