ISWC for Creators and Publishers

  • Creators and Publishers can request an ISWC for their works by registering with their Local or Regional Registration Agency. 

    To request an ISWC as a Publisher, via the IAS (ISWC Allocation Service), access has to be granted by the Society of which the Publisher is a member of. You can find more information here: ISWC Allocation Service for Publishers. 
    Please contact your affiliated Society directly, to request access.

    In the meantime, you can sign up for the IRS (ISWC Resolution Service), please find further information here: ISWC Resolution Service for Publishers, with a Quick Guide for Publishers here.

    To commence UAT for the ISWC Resolution Service, Publishers must sign the required Terms and Conditions with CISAC by contacting pubnet@cisac.org.
     
  • Works Numbering
    A work should be numbered only by a Registration Agency with the authority to do so. Actual numbers are only assigned by the central registry.
     
  • How to request an ISWC for your works
    If your are affiliated to a Collective Management Organisation:
    Please contact your CMO directly. They will be able to either assign an ISWC to your work or to direct you to the relevant Registration Agency. 

    If you are not affiliated to a Collective Management Organisation:
    Please go to the list of Registration Agencies and find the contact of the official Registration Agency in your country or region. If you are not able to find one, please contact directly the ISWC Registration Authority on the contact page. 

    Please note that the ISWC Registration Authority is not entitled to assign any ISWC numbers. 
     
  • Type of Musical Work which can be allocated an ISWC
    -    Protected work
    -    Non-protected work
    -    Dramatico-musical work
    -    Musical arrangement of a work
    -    Adaptation of the lyrics of a work
    -    Translation of the lyrics of a work
    -    Instrumental version of a work with associated lyrics
    -    Cadenza
    -    Recognised excerpt of a work
    -    Medley
    -    Pot-pourri
    -    Revision of a work
    -    Individual musical work (cue) contained in the soundtrack of an audiovisual work
Check our FAQ for more information