IPI vs ISNI: What's the Difference?
Both identify people in the music industry, but they serve different ecosystems. Here's how they compare.
Quick answer: An IPI is a music-specific identifier for songwriters and publishers, used for royalty payments. An ISNI is a cross-industry identifier for any creative contributor — musicians, authors, actors, researchers. Many music creators have both.
Side-by-side comparison
| IPI | ISNI | |
|---|---|---|
| Identifies | Songwriters & publishers | Any creative contributor |
| Scope | Music industry only | Cross-industry (music, books, film, research) |
| Format | 00123456789 (9 or 11 digits) | 0000 0001 2345 6789 (16 chars) |
| Standard | CISAC / SUISA | ISO 27729 |
| Assigned by | Your PRO (ASCAP, BMI, PRS, etc.) | National libraries, ORCID, music orgs |
| Used for | Royalty payments, rights management | Identity disambiguation, linked data |
| Registry size | ~600K identities | 16.5M+ identities |
| Public API | No (lookup via PROs) | Yes (isni.org SRU API) |
When each matters
IPI is essential for…
- Receiving mechanical royalties from the MLC
- Getting paid performance royalties via your PRO
- International royalty distribution via CISAC
- Proving songwriting ownership
ISNI is useful for…
- Linking your music identity to other creative work
- Appearing in library and academic databases
- Name disambiguation (many "John Smiths")
- Connecting to VIAF, Wikidata, and ORCID
How they connect
Many music creators have both identifiers. When they do, databases like MusicBrainz cross-reference the IPI and ISNI, creating a richer identity profile:
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins
Used by PRS, ASCAP, the MLC for royalty payments
Links to British Library, Wikidata, discographies
Credits.fm automatically detects these cross-references and shows both identifiers on musician profiles.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need both an IPI and an ISNI?
If you are a songwriter or music publisher, you likely have an IPI from your PRO. An ISNI is optional but beneficial — it links your music identity to other creative work (books, film, academic research). Many prominent music creators have both, and Credits.fm cross-references them automatically.
Can one person have an IPI without an ISNI?
Yes. Most songwriters and publishers have an IPI but no ISNI. An IPI is assigned automatically when you join a PRO, while an ISNI must be registered through a separate process. The reverse is also possible — an author or researcher might have an ISNI but no IPI.
How are IPI and ISNI linked together?
When a music creator has both identifiers, databases like MusicBrainz and ISNI.org cross-reference them. Credits.fm uses these links to provide richer profiles — showing both the music-specific data (from IPI) and the broader identity data (from ISNI) on the same page.
Which identifier is used for royalty payments?
IPI is the identifier used for royalty payments in the music industry. PROs (ASCAP, BMI, PRS) and the MLC use IPI numbers to identify who should receive songwriter and publisher royalties. ISNI is not used for royalty distribution — it serves as a cross-industry identity link.
Is ISNI replacing IPI?
No. IPI and ISNI serve different purposes and will continue to coexist. IPI is deeply embedded in the music rights infrastructure (PROs, CISAC, the MLC) and is essential for royalty payments. ISNI provides a broader identity layer across all creative industries. They complement rather than compete with each other.
Try it yourself
Look up real IPI and ISNI codes in our free database:
Key terms
- PRO (Performance Rights Organization)
- An organization like ASCAP, BMI, or PRS that collects performance royalties for songwriters. PROs assign IPI numbers to their members.
- CISAC
- The International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers — the global network that coordinates royalty distribution and manages the IPI system.
- VIAF
- Virtual International Authority File — a service linking authority records from national libraries. Connected to ISNI for cross-referencing identities worldwide.
Ready to look up IPI and ISNI codes?
Search our free database of millions of music identifiers.
Search identifiers