{"id":6957,"date":"2025-11-12T06:43:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T06:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/?p=6957"},"modified":"2025-11-12T06:48:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T06:48:00","slug":"youtube-royalty-distribution-isrc-codes-vs-iswc-codes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/?p=6957","title":{"rendered":"YouTube Royalty Distribution – ISRC codes vs ISWC codes"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\"Music is everybody\u2019s possession. It\u2019s only publishers who think that people own it.\"<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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John Lennon<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Designer<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Understanding the Difference Between ISRC and ISWC Codes in South Africa<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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When you make music and share it online\u2014on platforms like YouTube or Spotify\u2014it\u2019s very important that your songs are correctly registered and identified. This helps you get paid all the royalties you deserve.<\/p>

In South Africa, two main codes help with this: the ISRC<\/strong> and the ISWC<\/strong>. They sound similar but do very different things. Knowing how they work\u2014and how they connect to SAMRO and CAPASSO\u2014can help you make sure you don\u2019t lose money.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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(And how they affect YouTube royalties through SAMRO and CAPASSO)<\/em><\/p>

When you make music and share it online\u2014on platforms like YouTube or Spotify\u2014it\u2019s very important that your songs are correctly registered and identified. This helps you get paid all the royalties you deserve.<\/p>

In South Africa, two main codes help with this: the ISRC<\/strong> and the ISWC<\/strong>. They sound similar but do very different things. Knowing how they work\u2014and how they connect to SAMRO and CAPASSO\u2014can help you make sure you don\u2019t lose money.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cThe beautiful thing about music is that when it hits you, you feel no pain.\u201d \u2014 Bob Marley<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What Each Code Means<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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ISRC \u2013 International Standard Recording Code<\/strong><\/h4>

The ISRC is a unique code for each recording<\/em> of a song. Think of it like a fingerprint for the sound recording<\/em> itself\u2014the master track.<\/p>

  • Every version of your song needs its own ISRC: studio version, live version, remix, etc.<\/li>
  • It\u2019s made up of 12 letters and numbers that identify the country, the creator, the year, and a serial number.<\/li>
  • The ISRC helps track how your recording is used\u2014streams, downloads, YouTube videos, etc.\u2014so you can get paid for your recording rights<\/em> (often called \u201cmaster rights\u201d).<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    ISWC \u2013 International Standard Musical Work Code<\/strong><\/h4>

    The ISWC is different. It\u2019s the unique code for the musical work<\/em>\u2014the song as it was written (lyrics and composition).<\/p>

    • It usually looks something like T-123.456.789-X<\/strong>.<\/li>
    • Every song usually has one ISWC, even if there are many recordings of it.<\/li>
    • The ISWC is used to pay royalties to the people who wrote or published the song\u2014songwriters, composers, and publishers.<\/li><\/ul>

      So, in short:<\/p>

      • ISRC = the sound (recording)<\/strong><\/li>
      • ISWC = the song (composition)<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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        How This Works in South Africa<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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        In South Africa, there are organisations that collect and pay out royalties for musicians and songwriters:<\/p>

        • SAMRO<\/strong> collects performance royalties (for when your music is played on radio, TV, YouTube, etc.).<\/li>
        • CAPASSO<\/strong> collects mechanical royalties (for when your music is copied or streamed).<\/li>
        • RiSA<\/strong> manages ISRC registrations (for the recording side).<\/li><\/ul>

          Both SAMRO<\/strong> and CAPASSO<\/strong> also handle ISWC registrations (for the composition side).<\/p>

          This means:<\/p>

          • Your ISWC<\/strong> tells SAMRO and CAPASSO who to pay for the songwriting side<\/em>.<\/li>
          • Your ISRC<\/strong> tells YouTube and distributors who to pay for the recording side<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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            How YouTube Uses These Codes<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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            Every time your music is played on YouTube, two types of royalties are created:<\/p>

            1. Master Rights (ISRC)<\/strong> \u2013 for the sound recording (paid to the artist, producer, or label).<\/li>
            2. Composition Rights (ISWC)<\/strong> \u2013 for the song itself (paid to the songwriter and publisher).<\/li><\/ol>

              Here\u2019s how it all connects:<\/p>

              • SAMRO<\/strong> uses your ISWC and metadata (song title, composer names, publisher splits) to pay performance royalties.<\/li>
              • CAPASSO<\/strong> uses your ISWC to pay mechanical royalties for streams and reproductions.<\/li>
              • Your distributor or label<\/strong> uses the ISRC to report the master recordings to YouTube.<\/li><\/ul>

                If your ISWC or ISRC is missing, or not correctly linked, your royalties might go missing or be paid to the wrong person.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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                What You Should Do to Get Paid Properly<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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                To make sure you don\u2019t lose out on YouTube royalties in South Africa:<\/p>

                1. Register your song with SAMRO<\/strong><\/p>

                • Include all the correct details (songwriters, percentages, publisher info).<\/li>
                • Make sure an ISWC is issued for each composition.<\/li><\/ul>

                  2. Register with CAPASSO<\/strong><\/p>

                  • So your mechanical royalties for streams and YouTube plays can be tracked.<\/li><\/ul>

                    3. Get your ISRC from RiSA or your distributor<\/strong><\/p>

                    • Each version of your recording must have its own ISRC.<\/li><\/ul>

                      4. Make sure the ISRC and ISWC are linked correctly<\/strong><\/p>

                      • When uploading to YouTube or through your distributor, check that both codes are in the metadata.<\/li><\/ul>

                        Without one of these steps, part of your income may never reach you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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                        In Summary<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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                        For South African artists, songwriters, and producers, understanding the two codes is essential:<\/p>

                        • ISRC<\/strong> \u2013 for the recording (helps you get paid for streams and plays).<\/li>
                        • ISWC<\/strong> \u2013 for the composition (helps you get paid for writing and publishing).<\/li><\/ul>

                          Both codes need to be registered, linked, and shared in your song data for platforms like YouTube. Doing this ensures you get paid fully and on time by SAMRO<\/strong> and CAPASSO<\/strong>.<\/p>

                          It\u2019s smart to do a quick metadata check<\/strong> on all your songs\u2014make sure:<\/p>

                          • Each track has an ISRC<\/li>
                          • Each song is registered with an ISWC<\/li>
                          • The two are linked correctly in your distributor or YouTube metadata<\/li><\/ul>

                            That way, every play, stream, and share counts\u2014and pays.<\/p>

                            Get your codes. Link your data. Claim your royalties. If you’re struggling with any of these steps, reach out to info@weslawafrica.co.za with the subject line: youtube royalties.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

                            Don\u2019t let your plays go unpaid \u2014 take control of your music income today.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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                            In the digital-music ecosystem, proper registration and identification of both musical works (compositions) and sound recordings is important in ensuring that the right royalty flows. For creators and right-holders in South Africa who exploit their works online, such as on YouTube \/ Spotify, it’s critical to understand the difference between ISRC and ISWC to avoid revenue leakage or mis-allocation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6962,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-media-entertainment-law","category-uncategorized"],"featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-300x193.jpg",300,193,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547.jpg",768,493,false],"large":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-1024x658.jpg",950,610,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-1536x987.jpg",1536,987,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547.jpg",1919,1233,false],"inspiro-featured-image":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547.jpg",1919,1233,false],"inspiro-loop":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-950x320.jpg",950,320,true],"inspiro-loop@2x":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-1900x640.jpg",1900,640,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-600x400.jpg",600,400,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail@2x":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-1200x800.jpg",1200,800,true],"portfolio_item-masonry":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-600x386.jpg",600,386,true],"portfolio_item-masonry@2x":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-1200x771.jpg",1200,771,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_cinema":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-800x335.jpg",800,335,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_portrait":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-600x900.jpg",600,900,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_portrait@2x":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-1200x1233.jpg",1200,1233,true],"portfolio_item-thumbnail_square":["https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/pexels-sanketgraphy-16773547-800x800.jpg",800,800,true]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6957","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6957"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6968,"href":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6957\/revisions\/6968"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6962"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/weslawafrica.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}