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FAQs: ISMN (International Standard Music Number)
return to list of ISMN FAQ topics General Questions
What is an ISMN?
The ISMN is used to identify all international printed music publications, whether available for sale, hire or free. It is NOT used for sound, audio tapes, CDs, video recordings or for books on music. What is the purpose of an ISMN?
The purpose of the ISMN is to allow for more efficient marketing of printed music products within the publishing houses, music trade, and libraries by establishing a unique identifier for each printed music title or edition of a title by a specific publisher. What is the format of the ISMN?
Every ISMN consists of the letter M followed by nine digits, and when printed it is preceded by the letters ISMN. The ISMN is divided into four parts, two of which are variable in length, each part separated by a hyphen. What is the significance of the numbers in an ISMN?
The four parts of an ISMN break down as follows: - The M identifies it as an ISMN;
- Identifies a particular publisher;
- Identifies an edition of a work and the various items within it, such as the full score, separate parts of the score, etc;
- A single digit at the end acts as a "check digit" to validate the ISMN.
What is a "check digit"? Why is the last digit sometimes "X"?
The check digit is derived from the other 12 digits using a complex algorithm. This helps to prevent errors that may normally result from mis-typing. The method of determining the check digit for the ISMN results in a number from 0 to 10, so the Roman numeral X is used whenever 10 would occur as a check digit. What products are eligible for ISMNs?
Only printed music is eligible, and only when direct request are made by the music publisher. Other music-related products -- record albums, audio tapes, CDs, and digital recordings -- are NOT eligible. ISMN assignments must come from Who can assign ISMNs to a publisher?
ISMNs are assigned by ISMN agencies around the world, coordinated by the International ISMN Agency in Berlin. ISMNs are assigned in the United States by the Bowker, who is the exclusive U.S. ISMN Agency. Can a publisher have both an ISMN and an ISSN?
Both numbering systems are used for music publications in a series. The ISSN identifies the ongoing serial, or individual volumes of a series. The ISMN identifies the individual item in the series. If a publication has both, each should be printed clearly on the copyright page.
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