The music industry requires a standardized method for identifying the millions of professionals involved in creating and publishing musical works. This necessity is met by the Interested Parties Information (IPI) number, which functions as an international designation for individuals and companies. The IPI number is foundational for ensuring proper rights management and facilitating business transactions across international borders.
Defining the IPI Number and Its Purpose
The IPI number stands for Interested Parties Information, serving as a unique, permanent identification code for music rights holders around the world. This code is assigned to every songwriter, composer, lyricist, and music publisher registered in the international system. The IPI number typically consists of nine to eleven digits, linking the entity’s name to their intellectual property rights.
The core function of the IPI is to identify the entity—the person or company—rather than the musical work itself. This distinction allows the system to differentiate between individuals who may share the same or similar names. By assigning a unique numeric identifier to each rights holder, the IPI system provides an unambiguous way to track ownership shares in musical compositions, regardless of where the music is used.
How Writers and Publishers Obtain an IPI Number
The assignment of an IPI number is an automatic process triggered by affiliation with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) or a Collective Management Organization (CMO). Organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, and PRS for Music act as the gateway for writers and publishers to enter the international rights management system. The IPI number cannot be applied for directly.
During initial registration with a PRO, the writer or publisher submits personal and contact information. Once the PRO approves the membership, the organization facilitates the assignment of the IPI number on behalf of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC). This process formally enters the new rights holder into the global database.
A writer or publisher may receive their IPI number shortly after registration, typically within a week. An individual may have multiple IPI Name Numbers if they compose under different pseudonyms or are registered as both a writer and a publisher. Each identity associated with the rights holder receives its own distinct IPI Name Number, all linked back to the individual’s core account.
How the IPI System Ensures Accurate Royalty Collection
The IPI system manages the flow of royalty payments generated by musical compositions globally. PROs and CMOs rely on this standardized identifier to accurately match usage data with the correct rights holder. Without the IPI number, organizations would struggle to identify who is owed money, especially in cases of common names or international use.
When a song is performed publicly, streamed, or broadcast, the local PRO or CMO records the usage and collects the performance royalty. This organization then uses the IPI number associated with the work registration to route the collected funds back to the original rights holder’s home PRO. The IPI number acts as a universal routing code that standardizes communication between the more than 120 collecting societies internationally.
This standardized identification prevents royalties from becoming “unmatched” or lost where names and titles might be inconsistent. The IPI number is tied to the ownership share of the composition, ensuring that performance royalties and, in some systems, mechanical royalties are correctly attributed and distributed. This mechanism brings order to the complex financial tracking required for music publishing rights.
Distinguishing the IPI from Other Music Identifiers
The music industry utilizes several unique codes to manage rights, often leading to confusion among creators. While they all serve to track music, their scope is entirely different, separating the person from the song and the recording. Understanding these distinctions is necessary for accurate registration and effective management of musical assets.
IPI (The Person/Entity)
The Interested Parties Information (IPI) number is the unique identifier for the individual or company that owns the rights to a musical work. This code is assigned to the songwriter, composer, or publisher and remains with that entity throughout their career. A single musical work will have multiple IPI numbers associated with it, one for each contributing writer and publisher.
ISWC (The Song/Work)
The International Standard Musical Work Code (ISWC) is the unique identifier assigned to the underlying musical composition. This code identifies the combination of melody and lyrics, remaining constant regardless of how many different versions or recordings of the song exist. A song, regardless of the number of co-writers involved, can only have one ISWC.
ISRC (The Specific Recording)
The International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) is the unique identifier for a specific sound recording or music video. This code tracks the master recording, which is distinct from the composition. If a song is recorded in an acoustic version and a studio version, each recording must be assigned its own separate ISRC to track sales and streams.