CWR
CWR (Common Works Registration) is a standardized file format developed by CISAC for registering musical works with collecting societies and publishers in bulk. A CWR file carries work titles, ISWCs, songwriter and publisher IPI numbers, and ownership shares in a machine-readable structure, so societies like GEMA can ingest thousands of registrations without manual entry.
What a CWR file contains
A CWR file is a structured text file made of fixed record types. For each work it carries the title, the ISWC where one exists, every songwriter with role and IPI number, every publisher with its IPI, the ownership shares per territory, and links to known recordings via ISRC. Because the structure is standardized by CISAC, the same file can be submitted to societies in different countries, and each one reads exactly the fields it needs. The format has evolved through versions (CWR 2.1 and 2.2 are widely used across societies, with a newer CWR 3.x generation being adopted), but the core idea is stable: one machine-readable registration instead of one web form per work.
Who needs CWR
CWR is for anyone registering works at scale: publishers, administrators, and labels that handle the publishing side for their roster. A single work can be typed into a society's web portal; a catalogue of hundreds of works calls for bulk registration. Delivering via CWR keeps titles, writers, IPI numbers, and shares consistent across every society you submit to, and societies process the files directly into their works databases. Individual self-publishing songwriters usually register through their own society's portal and never touch the format — CWR becomes relevant the moment one party manages many works for many writers.
CWR in BBN Label Suite
BBN Label Suite generates CWR exports from the catalogue data you already maintain. Publishing is opt-in: a label with a collecting society membership and IPI numbers activates it, enters writers and shares per work, and exports registration files ready for GEMA and other CISAC societies. Because the export draws on the same source as your releases and splits, work titles, ISWCs, and writer credits stay aligned with what is live in stores — one dataset feeding both the recording and the publishing side. Master-only labels simply leave publishing off and keep distributing as usual. Questions about a specific society's intake process? Write to support@bbn.music.
Frequently asked questions
Is CWR the same as DDEX?
No. CWR registers musical works with collecting societies (the publishing side). DDEX standards move release metadata, audio, and sales data between labels, distributors, and stores (the recording side).
Do I need special software to create CWR files?
Practically yes — CWR is a machine-readable format with a fixed structure, meant to be generated rather than hand-written. BBN Label Suite creates the export from your catalogue data.
Can I send a CWR file to GEMA myself?
GEMA accepts CWR from publishers and administrators with a delivery agreement. Individual writers typically register works through the GEMA member portal instead.