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Managing International Standard Name Identifiers (ISNI)

  • Updated

This article explains how to add and manage the International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) within the FUGA Interface. Using an ISNI helps reduce profile mismatches on Digital Service Providers (DSPs) by uniquely identifying artists and contributors. By implementing these identifiers, you can significantly improve metadata integrity, delivery accuracy, and content discoverability across multiple streaming platforms.

Overview of ISNI

The ISNI is a globally recognized 16-character code used to identify individuals or organizations involved in creative content. In the music industry, ISNIs are utilized to disambiguate artists and contributors who share similar names, ensuring their works are accurately mapped across DSP platforms.

Using ISNIs in your FUGA catalog provides the following operational benefits:

  • Minimizes artist profile mismatches on DSPs.
  • Enhances the overall discoverability of releases.
  • Unifies identity management with a single, permanent identifier across platforms.

While ISNIs are not mandatory for digital delivery, they are supported by most major DSPs and are strongly recommended.

Supported DSPs

ISNI delivery is supported by all DSPs that receive DDEX ERN version 3 and higher. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Spotify
  • Apple Music (accepts ISNI but prioritizes Apple IDs)
  • YouTube
  • Amazon Music
  • Facebook
  • TIDAL

Note: Apple Music continues to prioritize Apple IDs over ISNIs. You should continue to include Apple IDs in your deliveries whenever they are available.

Adding ISNI in the FUGA Interface

You can manually assign an ISNI to any artist or contributor profile directly within the FUGA Interface.

For Artists

  1. Navigate to Catalog > Artists.
  2. Select the relevant artist profile.
  3. Locate the Rights identifiers section.
  4. Enter the 16-character identifier into the ISNI field.
  5. Click Save.

For Contributors (People)

  1. Navigate to Catalog > People.
  2. Select the relevant Person entity profile.
  3. Locate the Rights identifiers section.
  4. Enter the 16-character identifier into the ISNI field.
  5. Click Save.

During Artist Creation

When creating a brand-new artist profile, the FUGA Interface will display an optional field to input an ISNI before completing the profile creation.

Assigning ISNI via Extensible Markup Language (XML)

FUGA XML

To assign an ISNI to an artist or contributor via native FUGA ingestion files, use the <isni> node.

DDEX XML

For DDEX formats, map the identifier using the <PartyId IsISNI="true"> node under one of the following blocks:

  • DisplayArtist
  • ResourceContributor
  • IndirectResourceContributor

Note: The FUGA system only supports one ISNI per artist or contributor profile. If multiple ISNIs are present within a single DDEX file, the delivery ingestion will be automatically rejected.

Validation Rules in FUGA

The FUGA Interface enforces specific validation checks when an ISNI is added or ingested into the system:

  • Format Compliance: The entry must consist of exactly 16 characters. The final character must be either a digit or the letter "X".
  • Single ISNI Per Entity: Only one ISNI can be assigned per artist or contributor profile.

The following rules are not validated by the FUGA system:

  • Database Name Matches: FUGA does not cross-reference or validate the entered name against the official public ISNI database.
  • Catalog Uniqueness: FUGA does not enforce ISNI uniqueness across your catalog. The same ISNI can be utilized for different entities within your account if necessary.

Obtaining and Searching for an ISNI

To check if an ISNI already exists for a specific artist or contributor, you can query the public ISNI registry database.

If an artist or contributor does not currently possess an ISNI, a new identifier can be officially requested by contacting an authorized ISNI Registration Agency.

FAQs

Is ISNI delivery mandatory for DSPs?

No. DSPs that support ISNI will continue to accept standard, platform-specific artist identifiers such as Spotify Artist URIs or Apple IDs.

Can a Subaccount assign ISNIs?

Yes. Subaccounts possess the necessary permissions to assign ISNIs to artists and contributors associated with their own distributed catalog.

What should I do if an artist does not have an ISNI?

You may either contact an authorized registration agency to request one, or you can continue delivering content using platform-specific identifiers for services like Spotify, Apple Music, Audiomack, and SoundCloud.

Can I assign multiple ISNIs to one artist or contributor?

No. The FUGA system strictly supports a single ISNI per artist or person profile.

If you encounter issues or require further clarification on metadata ingestion, contact your FUGA representative or reach out via our support channel.

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