What is ISMN?

International Standard Music Number (ISMN) is a unique 13-digit number for the identification of all printed and digital music publications i.e. notated music such as scores, vocal scores, sheet music, anthologies of music, music part or separate parts for a particular instrumentation from a specific publisher or producer. It is compatible with the international EAN-13 digit barcode, an internationally recognized system whereby code numbers are assigned to facilitate international cooperation and information exchange.

The ISMN is used to identify publications of notated music, whether available for sale, hire, gratis or for copyright purposes only.

The assignment of an ISMN to a publication of notated music, shall not imply any meaning or value as legal evidence with regard to the ownership of rights to that publication.

What is a Registrant/Publisher?

A registrant is a person or organization that has requested and received an ISMN for a publication of notated music from an appointed ISMN Registration Agency. The registrant is usually the publisher of the publication, but exceptions may be an intermediary who is acting on behalf of, or in place of, the publisher.

The publisher is the group, organization, company, or individual who is responsible for initiating the production of a particular publication. Normally, the publisher is also the person or body who bears the cost or financial risk in making a product available.

How much does it cost?

Per Public Advisory No. JET-02 dated March 22, 2021, given the state of national emergency that the country is facing, the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) waives the collection of application fees for ISMN.

What are the Scope of the ISMN?

The ISMN is used to identify publications of notated music, whether available for sale, hire, gratis or for copyright purposes only.

The assignment of an ISMN to a publication of notated music, shall not imply any meaning or value as legal evidence with regard to the ownership of rights to that publication.

The ISMN is not targeted at sound or video recordings (except in the rare case noted below): individual sound recordings are identified by the International Standard Recording Code (ISRC), and audiovisual works by the International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN). The ISMN is not used for books on music, which receive an International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

Each constituent part of a publication which is separately available must receive its own ISMN. Itemsto be numbered include:

  • scores

  • miniature (study) scores

  • vocal scores

  • sets of parts

  • individual parts, available separately

  • pop folios

  • anthologies

  • other media that are an integral component of a publication of notated music (e.g., a tape recording that is one of the «parts» of a composition)

  • song texts or lyrics published with the notated music

  • commentaries published with the notated music (also available separately)

  • song books (optional)

  • micro-form music publications

  • braille music publications

  • electronic publications of musical notations

For books on music see the following list.

The following are not to be given ISMNs:

  • books on music except when they contain examples of notated music

  • stand-alone sound or video recordings (including recordings available on computer media)

  • periodicals and series as a whole, as distinct from individual volumes in series

Do I need a different ISMN for each format?

A separate ISMN must be assigned to every different edition of an item. Specifically, a new ISMN is required when:

  • there is a change in the musical or literary content of work, unless these are minor corrections.

  • a literary text that is an integral part of a published musical work is altered.

  • a translation of a literary text is added, removed or altered. A new ISMN must be assigned, even if text and/or music are otherwise unchanged.

  • the physical size of an item is substantially changed in to produce a new full study or miniature score edition.

An unchanged impression or unchanged reprint of the same item in the same format and by the same registrant must not be assigned a new ISMN unless there is a change in binding. Similarly, a reproduction supplied on demand from the same origination should not be assigned a new ISMN, even if a new reproduction date is indicated on the reproduction.

Price changes do not require the assignment of new ISMNs.

How do I get an ISMN?

  • If this is your first time to apply for ISMN, submit the following requirements:

    • Product form or the physical or digital properties of a publication that differentiate it as a product. E.g. the same edition of a publication may appear in different product forms: hardcover; Braille; .pdf; .html; etc.

    • Fill-out forms ISMN Fact Sheet and ISMN Information Sheet 

  • If you are already registered as Publisher.

    • Product form or the physical or digital properties of a publication that differentiate it as a product. E.g. the same edition of a publication may appear in different product forms: hardcover; Braille; .pdf; .html; etc.

    • Fill-out form ISMN Information Sheet 

Other things to Note