Which identifiers do I need (ISRC/UPC), how do I manage/retrieve them, and do I need to pay for them?

1. The essential ID cheat sheet
  ISRC - identifies one individual audio or video recording - issued by your distributor, a national ISRC agency, or via your own company prefix - free via most distributors, or free prefix from your local agency (one time).
  UPC or EAN - identifies the release as a commercial product (single, EP, album, vinyl) - issued by your distributor or GS1 - free or low cost via distributor, GS1 barcodes start around US$30.
  ISWC - identifies the song (composition) - assigned automatically by your PRO when you register the work - no cost.
  ISNI - identifies the creator or company - issued by ISNI registration partners (often PROs or libraries) - usually free.
  GRid - identifies digital product bundles - provided by some distributors or labels - free if used.
  SoundExchange ISRC registration - enables non-interactive collection in the US - you enter your existing ISRCs - no cost.
  Take home: for most DIY releases the only codes you must handle are ISRC per track and UPC per release. The rest are automatic or optional.

2. How to get your codes
  Let your distributor handle it
  Upload WAV or FLAC with metadata, the distributor assigns ISRCs and a UPC at checkout.
  Cost: usually $0 extra, included in distribution.
  Get your own ISRC prefix (if you want control)
  Apply once to your national ISRC agency (RIAA for US, PPL for UK).
  You receive a prefix and generate ISRCs yourself in a spreadsheet.
  Best for labels or artists releasing many tracks across distributors.
  UPC via GS1 (if pressing vinyl or CDs)
  Buy a GS1 company prefix and generate barcodes for physical stock.
  Optional for pure digital releases, distributor UPC is fine.

3. Managing and storing IDs
  Catalog spreadsheet: Song title, ISRC, Release title, UPC, Release date, ISWC - fast copy paste for PROs, sync pitches, and credits.
  Version control: new mix, remaster, radio edit - assign a new ISRC - keeps royalties and analytics clean.
  Shared drive: store PDF barcodes and confirmation emails - no inbox hunting during audits.
  Register everywhere: PRO, SoundExchange, neighboring rights agency - prevents lost or black box royalties.
  Quarterly audit: cross check distributor dashboard against your sheet - catches metadata mistakes early.

4. Do I ever pay extra
  Distributor "custom code" upsells - some services charge a small fee (under $5) if you supply your own UPC or ISRC instead of letting them assign.
  GS1 barcodes - physical product barcodes typically $30 to $80 for a block.
  No subscription required to keep codes active - once assigned they last for the life of the recording or release.

5. Common pitfalls
  Reusing an ISRC for a remaster, remix, or radio edit - platforms treat it as the same recording and stats get messy.
  Different UPCs for the same digital release across multiple distributors - can split stream counts, stick to one.
  Uploading first and registering later - finalize titles and splits before codes go live.
  Typos when copying an ISRC into PRO or SoundExchange forms - leads to unclaimed royalties.

Key takeaways
  ISRC equals track, UPC equals product - these two get you on stores and ensure payment.
  Distributors generate codes for free - use this unless you need your own prefix.
  Store codes in a master sheet with song data and splits - back it up in the cloud.
  Use new ISRCs for new versions - remixes, remasters, live edits.
  Register the exact codes with all royalty agencies - PRO, distributor, SoundExchange - so every penny finds its way home.