Understand UPCs and ISRCs in NORTH

What this guide covers

Know which identifier belongs to the release and which belongs to each recording.

A NORTH release is the source record for the package you send to stores. It connects release-level metadata, tracks, audio, artwork, contributors, store selections, delivery status, identifiers, and royalty splits.

Before you start

• Have final audio and cover artwork ready.
• Confirm the release title, artist display, label, dates, copyright information, and track order.
• Collect contributor and songwriter details before submission.
• Know whether the music has been released previously and whether existing UPC/ISRC identifiers must be retained.

Step by step

1. 01

   Treat the UPC as the identifier for the release package.

2. 02

   Treat the ISRC as the identifier for an individual sound recording.

3. 03

   Enter an existing valid identifier only when it belongs to the exact same catalog item or recording.

4. 04

   If you do not already have an identifier, leave the field in the state requested by the builder so NORTH can continue the normal release process. Before continuing, compare the change against the release summary so you do not create a conflicting title, artist, date, or identifier.

Check your work

• Every track has the correct audio file.
• Artist and title spelling is consistent across release and tracks.
• Dates and identifiers reflect the actual release history.
• The review step has no blocking validation errors.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Creating a duplicate release to fix a small metadata issue.
• Changing artist identity after delivery without considering store mapping.
• Using an existing identifier for a different recording.
• Submitting too close to the requested release date.

What happens next

After submission, use the release details page as the canonical place to follow review, revisions, delivery, metadata, and splits.

If the result on screen does not match what this guide describes, stop before creating duplicate catalog records or repeating a financial action. Use the visible status and error information when contacting NORTH support.