ISNI
An ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier) is a 16-character code defined by ISO 27729 that identifies the public identity of a person or organisation involved in creative works. In music, artists, songwriters, producers, and labels use ISNIs so streaming services, databases, and metadata systems can tell identically named contributors apart.
How an ISNI works
An ISNI is assigned once per public identity and stays with it permanently. Registration agencies, operating under the ISNI International Agency, check that the name, roles, and existing records describe one distinct identity, then issue the 16-character code. From there the identifier travels wherever the name does: streaming metadata, DDEX delivery feeds, library catalogues, credit databases, and society records can all carry it. Because the code, not the spelling, marks the identity, a name change, a transliteration, or a second 'John Smith' no longer scrambles credits. An artist who works under several personas can hold a separate ISNI for each one, keeping the catalogues of each project cleanly apart.
ISNI vs IPI: which one do you need?
You may need both, because they answer different questions. An IPI number is issued when you join a collecting society such as GEMA; it identifies you as a rights holder so performance and mechanical royalties reach the right account. An ISNI identifies your public name across the whole creative sector (music, books, film, research), independent of any royalty system. Practical rule: register with a society and you get an IPI automatically; an ISNI you request separately through a registration agency. For credits, search, and linking your work across databases, the ISNI does the work; for getting paid by societies, the IPI does.
Who should get an ISNI
An ISNI pays off for anyone whose name can be mistaken for another's, and that covers more artists than expected. Performers with common names, producers who appear on hundreds of credits, session musicians, and labels managing a roster all gain from a stable identifier. Streaming services and credit platforms increasingly match contributors by identifier rather than by name string, so a registered ISNI means your features, writing credits, and production work consolidate under one profile instead of splintering across near-duplicates. Getting one is a one-time step: apply through an ISNI registration agency, confirm your identity and works, and use the code consistently in your release metadata from then on.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ISNI the same as an IPI number?
No. An IPI number comes from the collecting-society world and routes royalty payments; an ISNI identifies your public name across all creative industries. Many music professionals hold both — the IPI for getting paid, the ISNI for being correctly credited and found.
How do I get an ISNI?
Apply through an ISNI registration agency, which verifies your identity against existing records and issues the code. Once assigned, include it in your release metadata and profiles so databases link your work to the right identity.
Do I need an ISNI to distribute music?
No — releases go live without one. An ISNI becomes valuable as your catalogue grows: it keeps credits consolidated and prevents mix-ups with similarly named artists across streaming and credit databases.