Keep stream counts when re-releasing a song
How to Reuse ISRCs the Right Way
Heard of an ISRC?
If you’ve ever released music on Spotify, you’ve definitely used one — even if you don’t remember consenting.
An ISRC is your track’s fingerprint. It’s how streaming platforms tell your track apart from all the other tracks, including different versions of your own song: radio edit, clean version, sped-up version, remix, etc.
And if you mess up your ISRCs, it can be like a bad cloning experiment. Suddenly your streaming stats are scattered.
Let’s not do that.
When to reuse an ISRC:
You should reuse the same ISRC when the actual audio file is identical to a previously released version. A few common examples:
- Releasing a single now, then later putting it on an EP or album
- Waterfalling singles into a larger collection over time
- Including the same track on a compilation
- Re-releasing the same song because your distributor sucks
In all these cases, reuse the ISRC from the original release. That tells DSPs:
"Hey, this is the same song. Please don’t treat it like a stranger."
When NOT to reuse an ISRC:
Don’t reuse the same ISRC if the audio has changed in any significant way. Examples:
- You remixed it
- You remastered it
- You did a sad acoustic version to match your new haircut
- You added or removed verses, players, or features
If it’s not the same exact recording, it needs a new ISRC.
Now, having worked behind the scenes for decades in music distribution, I can say, it’s debatable how different the audio needs to be before Spotify requires different ISRCs. For instance, if the single got mastered on its own, and then mastered again to fit with the album… that’s probably a small enough difference where you could keep the ISRC the same.
But — uhhmmmm — I didn’t tell you that. ; )
How to keep your metadata clean:
If you're uploading the same track on multiple releases (single → album), just:
- Copy/paste the original ISRC into your new release when your distributor lets you.
- Triple-check the title, duration, and audio file — they must match exactly (or near exactly, as I hinted above).
- Don’t re-title the same song with clever additions like “(Album Version)” — that’s asking for metadata mayhem.
- Use the same WAV file if possible. Don’t export a new file with different dither and hope for the best.
Why it matters
Using the same ISRC keeps your:
- Streams & playlists intact
- Stats consolidated
- Algorithmic mojo strong
- Royalties routed correctly
To put it simply...
Same recording? Same ISRC.
Different recording? New ISRC.
Mild anxiety? Professional hazard.
