Complete Guide to Music Metadata
Music metadata is the information about a song — who wrote it, who performed it, the unique codes that identify it, and where it can be found. It is the invisible infrastructure that makes royalty payments possible.
Search music metadata — Look up any ISRC, ISWC, IPI, ISNI, or UPC code in our free database.
Search All IdentifiersWhat is music metadata?
Music metadata is every piece of information attached to a song beyond the audio itself. It tells the world who created the music, who owns it, how to identify it uniquely, and where to find it on streaming platforms. Without metadata, a song is just a sound file with no connection to the people who made it or the systems that pay them.
In the modern music industry, metadata is the foundation of how royalties are tracked and distributed. Every time a song is streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, or any other platform, dozens of metadata fields are used to determine who gets paid and how much. When metadata is accurate, the system works. When it is wrong or missing, money gets lost.
Four types of music metadata
Music metadata falls into four broad categories, each serving a different function in the industry:
1. Descriptive Metadata
The basic facts about a recording that listeners see.
- Song title and album title
- Artist name and featured artists
- Genre, release date, track number
- Duration, language, explicit flag
2. Rights Metadata
Information about who owns the music and how royalties are split.
- Songwriter names and roles (composer, lyricist, arranger)
- Publisher chains (original publisher, sub-publishers, administrators)
- Ownership percentages and split shares
- Record label and distributor
- Copyright notices and territory restrictions
3. Identifier Metadata
Standardized codes that uniquely identify recordings, compositions, and people.
4. Platform Metadata
Data from streaming services and retail platforms.
- Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube URLs
- Cover artwork and promotional images
- Stream counts and chart positions
- Playlist placements
Music identifier comparison
Five standardized identifiers form the backbone of music metadata. Each identifies a different entity in the music ecosystem:
| Identifier | Identifies | Format | Assigned By | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISRC | A specific recording | 12 characters | Labels, distributors, RIAA | USUM71922944 |
| ISWC | A musical composition | T-000000000-0 | CISAC societies | T-927.344.193-8 |
| IPI | A songwriter or publisher | 9-11 digits | PROs (ASCAP, BMI, etc.) | 00521908415 |
| ISNI | A creative contributor | 16 digits | ISNI International Authority | 0000000121707484 |
| UPC | A release (album/single) | 12-13 digits | Labels, distributors, GS1 | 602508526589 |
These identifiers work together. An ISRC links to an ISWC (connecting a recording to its composition), which links to IPI numbers (connecting the composition to its songwriters). A UPC groups multiple ISRCs into a release.
Why metadata matters for royalties
Every stream on every platform generates multiple royalty payments. The entire chain depends on metadata:
- Platform reports the stream — Spotify or Apple Music records a play and reports the ISRC to the MLC and the distributor.
- MLC matches recording to composition — The Mechanical Licensing Collective uses the ISRC to find the corresponding ISWC and identify the songwriters by their IPI numbers.
- Shares are applied — The MLC looks up each songwriter's ownership percentage and calculates their share of the mechanical royalty.
- Money flows to rights holders — Mechanical royalties go to songwriters and publishers. Master royalties go to labels and artists. Performance royalties go through PROs.
If any link in this chain is broken — a missing ISRC, an unregistered ISWC, a wrong IPI — the royalties cannot reach the right person. They accumulate in what the industry calls the “black box”: pools of unmatched money that may never be claimed.
The metadata supply chain
Music metadata flows through a complex chain of organizations, each responsible for a different piece of the puzzle:
- 1
Creation
Songwriters create the composition and document their ownership splits. The recording is made in a studio or DAW. At this stage, metadata exists informally — in session notes, split sheets, and the minds of the creators.
- 2
Registration
Songwriters register the composition with their PRO (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) and the MLC. The PRO assigns an IPI to the songwriter. CISAC societies may assign an ISWC. The composition is now formally documented in rights databases.
- 3
Distribution
The distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, or a label's distribution arm) assigns an ISRC to each recording and a UPC to the release. They deliver the audio files plus descriptive metadata to streaming platforms.
- 4
Platform Ingestion
Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms ingest the recording, create their catalog entries, and begin tracking streams. They report usage data (which ISRCs were played, how many times) to the MLC and distributors.
- 5
Matching & Payment
The MLC matches ISRCs to ISWCs and distributes mechanical royalties to songwriters via their IPI. PROs distribute performance royalties. Labels and distributors pay master royalties to artists. The entire chain depends on every identifier being correct and connected.
Common metadata problems
Despite the importance of metadata, problems are widespread. These are the most common issues and how to address them:
Missing songwriter registration
The most common problem. An artist distributes their recording through DistroKid or TuneCore, which assigns an ISRC and delivers it to Spotify — but nobody registers the underlying composition with the MLC or a PRO. The recording generates streams, but mechanical and performance royalties have nowhere to go.
Fix: Register every composition with your PRO and the MLC before or immediately after release. Include all co-writers and their correct IPI numbers.
Inconsistent artist or writer names
A songwriter registered as “John Smith” with ASCAP, “J. Smith” with the MLC, and “Johnny Smith” on the distributor's platform. Each variation may be treated as a different person, splitting royalties across multiple accounts or leaving some uncollected.
Fix: Use your full legal name consistently across all registrations. Your IPI number is the definitive link — always include it.
Duplicate or wrong ISRCs
Two different recordings sharing the same ISRC, or a remaster using the original recording's ISRC when it should have a new one. This causes stream counts to merge incorrectly and can misdirect royalties.
Fix: Every distinct recording needs its own ISRC. Remixes, remasters, live versions, and radio edits each require a unique code. Contact your distributor or the RIAA to correct duplicates.
Unlinked ISRC and ISWC
A recording has an ISRC and a composition has an ISWC, but nobody connected the two. The MLC cannot match the stream to the composition, so mechanical royalties go unmatched.
Fix: When registering with the MLC, include the ISRC for every recording of the composition. You can verify the link on Credits.fm by looking up the ISRC and checking whether songwriter data appears.
Missing split sheets
Co-writers release a song without agreeing on ownership splits. When it comes time to register with the MLC, they disagree. Until the dispute is resolved, no one may receive the songwriter's share of royalties.
Fix: Document splits before or during the session. A split sheet does not need to be a formal legal document — even a signed email or text message thread can serve as evidence of the agreement.
How Credits.fm helps
Credits.fm provides free access to music metadata across all major identifier types. You can use it to verify that your metadata is correct, find missing connections, and explore the credit chain for any song.
ISRC Lookup
Search recordings by ISRC, title, or artist
ISWC Lookup
Search compositions by ISWC or title
IPI Lookup
Search songwriters and publishers by IPI or name
ISNI Lookup
Search creative contributors by ISNI or name
All data is sourced from the Mechanical Licensing Collective, MusicBrainz (CC0), CISAC, ISNI.org, and streaming platforms. Credits.fm is free to use and does not require an account.
Frequently asked questions
What is music metadata?
Music metadata is the information attached to a song or recording that describes who created it, who owns it, and how to identify it. This includes descriptive data (titles, artist names), rights data (songwriter credits, publisher chains, ownership percentages), identifiers (ISRC, ISWC, IPI, ISNI, UPC), and platform data (streaming links, play counts). Metadata is what allows royalties to reach the right people.
Why does music metadata matter?
Metadata is the foundation of royalty payments. Streaming platforms use ISRCs to track plays, the MLC uses ISWCs and IPIs to distribute mechanical royalties to songwriters, and PROs use metadata to pay performance royalties. Without accurate metadata, royalties end up in "black box" pools — money collected but never paid to the rightful owners. The music industry loses hundreds of millions of dollars annually to metadata errors.
What is the difference between an ISRC and an ISWC?
An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) identifies a specific recording — one particular performance captured in audio. An ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code) identifies the underlying composition — the song itself, regardless of who recorded it. One ISWC can map to many ISRCs because the same song can be recorded multiple times (original, covers, remixes, live versions).
Who is responsible for music metadata?
Multiple parties share responsibility. Distributors (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby) deliver recording metadata and ISRCs to streaming platforms. Songwriters and publishers register compositions with PROs (ASCAP, BMI) and the MLC, providing ISWCs and IPI numbers. Labels manage release metadata and UPCs. In practice, the artist or their team must ensure all parties have accurate, consistent information.
How do I fix incorrect music metadata?
Start by identifying where the error is: recording metadata (contact your distributor), songwriter registration (contact your PRO or the MLC), or release information (contact your label or distributor). For ISRCs, contact the organization that assigned it. For ISWCs, contact CISAC or your local society. Most distributors allow metadata edits through their dashboard, though changes may take days to propagate across all platforms.
What happens when music metadata is missing?
Missing metadata causes royalties to go uncollected. If a recording has no ISRC, platforms cannot track its plays. If a composition has no ISWC or registered songwriters, the MLC cannot distribute mechanical royalties. Missing IPI numbers mean PROs cannot identify the rights holders. The money does not disappear — it accumulates in unmatched royalty pools, but it may never reach the people who earned it.
Can I look up music metadata for free?
Yes. Credits.fm provides free lookup for ISRCs, ISWCs, IPI codes, ISNIs, and UPCs. You can search by identifier code, song title, or artist name. The database combines data from the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), MusicBrainz, CISAC, and streaming platforms to provide comprehensive metadata for millions of recordings.
What is a metadata supply chain?
The metadata supply chain is the path that information about a song follows from creation to royalty payment. It starts when songwriters document their splits, continues through registration with PROs and the MLC, flows through distributors to streaming platforms, and ultimately determines how royalties are calculated and paid. Each step relies on accurate data from the previous step — one error can break the entire chain.
Try it yourself
Look up real music metadata in our free database:
Key terms
- Black box royalties
- Royalties collected by the MLC, PROs, or foreign societies that cannot be matched to their rightful owners due to missing or incorrect metadata. Billions accumulate globally each year.
- Metadata supply chain
- The path that information about a song follows from creation through registration, distribution, platform ingestion, and finally royalty payment. Each step depends on accurate data from the previous step.
- Split sheet
- A written agreement between co-writers that documents each person's ownership percentage of a song. Split sheets should be completed before or during the creative session.
- MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective)
- The US organization designated by the Copyright Royalty Board to administer blanket mechanical licenses for interactive streaming. The MLC collects and distributes mechanical royalties from services like Spotify and Apple Music to songwriters and publishers.
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