What is an ISWC?

The International Standard Musical Work Code (ISWC) is an international identifier for musical works, used to track compositions across the globe. It’s a critical tool for composers and music publishers to manage copyright and royalty collection efficiently. If you like this guide and want to read more like this, check out our artist resources.

Each ISWC starts with the prefix ‘T’, followed by a nine-digit unique number and a check digit. The ISWC is used globally by societies and organizations involved in the rights management of musical compositions to ensure that royalties are correctly distributed to composers and publishers. Composers can register their works with a local copyright office or directly through international societies that assign these codes, such as ASCAP or BMI in the USA.

The ISWC stands as a global standard for identifying musical works, ensuring that rights holders are acknowledged and compensated across borders. For more tips like these, check out the dozens of free artist resources we offer.