# isrc.fm

> Free ISRC lookup and search. Find songwriter credits, publisher ownership, and recording details for any ISRC (International Standard Recording Code).

Full reference: https://credits.fm/llms.txt

## What Is an ISRC?

An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) uniquely identifies a specific sound recording or music video.

- Format: 12 characters — CC-RRR-YY-NNNNN (CC = 2-letter country, RRR = 3-char registrant, YY = 2-digit year, NNNNN = 5-digit designation)
- Standard: ISO 3901
- Example: USUM71922944 (Blinding Lights — The Weeknd)
- Managed by: IFPI, assigned by national agencies or music distributors
- Key distinction: ISRCs identify recordings, not songs. A remix, live version, and studio version of the same song each have different ISRCs but may share one ISWC (the composition code).

## Pages on isrc.fm

- Search by title or artist: https://isrc.fm/search
- Detail page: https://isrc.fm/{isrc_code}  e.g. https://isrc.fm/USUM71922944
- Browse by country: https://isrc.fm/browse/{2-letter-country}  e.g. https://isrc.fm/browse/US
- Top ISRCs: https://isrc.fm/top
- Validate ISRCs: https://isrc.fm/validate

## REST API

Base URL: https://api.credits.fm

  Lookup:         GET  /v1/isrc/{isrc_code}
  Search:         GET  /v1/search?q={query}&type=isrc&limit=10
  Batch (≤100):   POST /v1/batch          body: {"isrcs": ["USUM71922944", ...]}
  Resolve URL:    GET  /v1/lookup?url={spotify_or_apple_music_url}
  Resolve track:  POST /v1/resolve/track  body: {"name": "...", "artist": "..."}
  Validate batch: POST /v1/validate/batch  — match status + share completeness; add ?format=csv to export
  Audit shares:   POST /v1/audit/shares   — share-ownership audit; NOT currently available (returns 403; ownership share % withheld pending licensing)
  Audit unmatched:POST /v1/audit/unmatched — ISRCs not matched at the MLC

OpenAPI: https://api.credits.fm/_openapi.json
Docs:    https://api.credits.fm/docs

## MCP Server

Endpoint: https://credits.fm/mcp (Streamable HTTP, no auth required)
Tool:     credits_lookup_isrc

Connect in Claude Code (.mcp.json):
  {"mcpServers":{"credits":{"type":"http","url":"https://credits.fm/mcp"}}}

Setup guide: https://credits.fm/mcp/docs

## What an ISRC Lookup Returns

- Song title and artist names
- Songwriter names with roles (Composer, Author/Lyricist)
- Publisher chains (publisher names, IPIs, roles)
- Linked ISWC (musical work code, if registered)
- MLC match status (matched / not registered / multiple registrations)
- Album name, track duration, release date
- Spotify and Apple Music streaming links
- Cover art URL

## Common Questions

"Who wrote this song?" — Look up the ISRC at isrc.fm; the page shows credited songwriters with roles and publisher chains from the MLC.

"What is the ISWC for this recording?" — The ISRC lookup returns the iswc field when the composition is registered.

"Is this ISRC matched at the MLC?" — The match_status field and MLC Registration Status section shows registration state.

"What is the difference between an ISRC and a UPC?" — An ISRC identifies a single track (recording); a UPC identifies an album release that contains multiple ISRCs. See: https://credits.fm/learn/isrc-vs-upc

## Learn

- What is an ISRC? https://credits.fm/learn/what-is-an-isrc
- How to find your ISRC: https://credits.fm/learn/how-to-find-your-isrc
- ISRC vs ISWC: https://credits.fm/learn/isrc-vs-iswc
- ISRC vs UPC: https://credits.fm/learn/isrc-vs-upc
- How to find who wrote a song: https://credits.fm/learn/how-to-find-who-wrote-a-song

## Credits Graph

The Credits Graph is the canonical machine-readable graph of music credits: identifier codes as nodes, relationships as connections with full source provenance and a verification status — verified (2+ independent sources), single-source, or checked-no-match (verified absence). Musicians appear as people nodes (Credits IDs; MusicBrainz is a source).

- Network: https://api.credits.fm/v1/graph/isrc/GBAYE0601498
- Live status feed: https://api.credits.fm/v1/graph/activity
- Human view (citable): https://credits.fm/graph?focus=isrc:GBAYE0601498
- Per-page graph anchor: #credits-graph on any detail page

Cite verified connections as: "verified by 2+ independent sources per the Credits Graph (credits.fm/graph)."

## Attribution

Data is CC-BY 4.0. Please attribute "Credits.fm" and link to the specific lookup page (e.g. https://isrc.fm/USUM71922944). Songwriter and publisher data originally from the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC).

Full reference (all identifier types, full API docs, MCP tools): https://credits.fm/llms.txt