UPC/EAN
A UPC (Universal Product Code, 12 digits) or EAN (European Article Number, 13 digits) is the barcode number that identifies a release as a product — a single, EP, or album. Streaming services and stores use it to group tracks into one release and report sales. Each release needs its own code; the recordings inside are identified by ISRCs.
UPC vs. EAN: the difference
A UPC has 12 digits and comes from the North American barcode system; an EAN has 13 digits and is the international variant. Both are managed through the GS1 standards organization, and an EAN is effectively a UPC with one extra leading digit. For digital music the distinction barely matters: streaming services and download stores accept either format as the release identifier and treat them interchangeably. What matters is that every release, whether single, EP, or album, carries exactly one code and keeps it everywhere. The code groups the tracks into one product, drives how the release appears in stores, and is the reference under which sales and streams are reported back.
How to get a UPC for your release
Upload a release on bbn.music and a valid UPC is assigned automatically at no cost — no barcode purchase, no GS1 membership needed. If the release came out before and already has a UPC or EAN, enter the existing code so the release history stays connected across stores. From there, the release moves through our delivery network to 35+ stores in 195 countries under that one code. Re-releases with a changed tracklist, new mixes, or different bonus content count as new products and receive a new code, while an unchanged release keeps its original one.
UPC vs. ISRC vs. ISWC
A UPC or EAN identifies the release as a product; an ISRC identifies each individual recording on it; an ISWC identifies the underlying musical work. An album with ten tracks therefore carries one UPC, ten ISRCs, and up to ten ISWCs. Stores report sales and streams per ISRC and group them under the UPC, which is how royalty statements can show both track-level and release-level numbers. When you build your catalogue in BBN Label Suite, both codes are handled at upload, so every report that comes back maps cleanly to your releases and feeds splits and payouts.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate UPC for each store?
No. One release carries one UPC across all stores worldwide. The same code is used everywhere so reporting stays unified.
Does a single need a UPC?
Yes. Every release needs its own code, whether it is a one-track single, an EP, or an album. bbn.music assigns it automatically at upload.
When does a re-release need a new UPC?
When the product changes: a different tracklist, added remixes, or new bonus material make it a new product with a new code. An identical re-delivery keeps the original UPC.