Getting A Bar Code For Your Music

You got that new "mix tape" with all original material, or you have an independent release, it's on radio, but you can't get it in the stores or you have been led to believe that by joining up in one of the online distributors, that you outright own the bar code they assign to your product. What now?

If you plan on selling your music to retail stores and distributors, having a bar code is absolutely essential.


In fact, many record stores (including the bigger independent stores) will not carry your product unless you have a bar code. Having a bar code is also necessary if you want to register sales on SoundScan.

Music bar codes are made up of four parts:

(1) The first six digits including the little number at the beginning makes up the vendor code. These numbers are assigned by the Uniform Code Council, and identify you as a vendor. For example, Atlantic Records products would all have the same vendor code.
(2) The next four digits make up the product code. The owner of the vendor code assigns these to each product for distribution by that vendor. It's normally the catalog number.
(3) The second-to-last of the numbers make up the product type digit. This is always a 2 for CDs, 4 for cassettes, 1 for vinyl LPs, or 7 for vinyl 7-inches.
(4) The very last number at the end of the code is called the check digit. This number is generated by a complex mathematical algorithm based on the first 11 digits.

Be very aware where you get your bar codes from. Some CD manufacturers will tell you that they can provide you with a bar code. When someone tells you they can provide you with a bar code, that means they have purchased their own vendor code and will assign you a product code with their vendor code attached. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE UNIFORM CODE COUNCIL AGREEMENT (Now known as GS1 US. It is not a legitimate practice to use someone else's vendor code, whether or not you have their permission. In addition, it's not legitimate for anyone to sell, rent, loan, or transfer a vendor code to someone else. There's only one legal way to own your very own bar code: contact the GS1 US Offices (Formerly the Uniform Code Council) at the number or address below.


GS1 US (Formerly the Uniform Code Council)
7887 Washington, Suite 300, Dayton, OH 45459 USA
Tel 937-435-3870, Fax 937-435-731
http://www.gs1us.org/barcodes_and_ecom/i_need_a_u.p.c._barcode?utm_campaign=InternalCampaign&utm_source=Home&utm_medium=QuickLinks&utm_content=Barcode