A UPC (Universal Product Code) is the unique barcode that identifies a whole release — your single, EP or album — across every store and streaming service. Here's what it does, how it's different from an ISRC, and how to get one at no cost.
A UPC identifies the release as a product — the single, EP or album as a whole — while an ISRC identifies each individual recording inside it. Stores use the UPC to list your release, ring up sales and report them back to you and the charts. You need one UPC per release. You don't have to buy one yourself — a distributor assigns a valid UPC automatically when you release.
| UPC | ISRC | |
|---|---|---|
| Identifies | The release (single/EP/album) | A single recording (track) |
| How many you need | One per release | One per track |
| Used for | Sales & store listing | Stream/play tracking |
| Who provides it | Your distributor — free | Your distributor — free |
Think of it this way: the UPC is the barcode on the album, and each ISRC is the fingerprint of one song on it. With Mazufa Records both are included free on every release, so your sales and streams are tracked correctly everywhere.
A UPC (Universal Product Code) is a unique number that identifies a music release — a single, EP or album — so stores can list it, sell it and report sales. Each release gets one UPC.
No. Your distributor assigns a valid UPC to every release for free, so you don't need to purchase one separately.
A UPC identifies the whole release (the product), while an ISRC identifies each individual recording. An album has one UPC and one ISRC per track.
Yes — one UPC per release. A single, an EP and an album each get their own UPC, even if some tracks overlap.
Distribute with a service like Mazufa Records and a valid UPC is assigned to your release automatically, at no cost — along with free ISRCs for each track.
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Distribute to 150+ stores worldwide with Mazufa — free UPC and ISRCs, 0% commission, 100% of your rights.