ISMN
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ISMN is the International Standard Music Number for notated sheet music, encoded as an EAN-13 with a 979-0 prefix.
Important Notice
ISMN is for printed music notation only — do not use it for audio recordings, music books without notation, or music periodicals.
Important Notice
ISMN numbers must be obtained from your national ISMN agency — they cannot be self-assigned.
Key Facts
- Digits
- 13 (GS1 prefix 9790)
- Symbology
- EAN-13 (identical)
- Check Digit
- Modulo 10 (EAN-13)
- Standard
- ISO 10957 (ISMN)
- Common Use
- Printed music scores / sheet music
What is an ISMN barcode?
ISMN (International Standard Music Number) is the barcode used for printed music publications — sheet music, scores, songbooks, and music notation. Standardised in ISO 10957, the ISMN uses GS1 prefix '979-0', making it an EAN-13 barcode beginning with '9790'. The ISMN was redesigned in 2008 to align with ISBN-13/EAN-13 format, replacing the older 'M-' prefixed 10-character ISMN. It is administered by the International ISMN Agency through national ISMN agencies.
The 13 digits explained
An ISMN barcode is an EAN-13 with this structure:
- Digits 1–4: GS1 prefix '9790' (ISMN).
- Digits 5–12: Publisher prefix + item number (assigned by national ISMN agency).
- Digit 13: EAN-13 Modulo 10 check digit.
The human-readable ISMN is printed as 'ISMN 979-0-XXXX-XXXX-X' with the check digit included. Like ISBN-13, the barcode and human-readable number are identical.
ISMN vs. ISBN-13 vs. ISSN
ISMN (9790) is specifically for printed music notation. ISBN-13 (978/979-non-0) covers books including music instruction books and lyrics-only volumes. ISSN (977) covers music periodicals and magazines. A printed orchestral score uses ISMN; a book about music theory uses ISBN; a quarterly music journal uses ISSN. All three use EAN-13 barcode symbology and are scanned identically.
When to use ISMN
Use ISMN barcodes on:
- Printed music scores (full scores, piano reductions, parts).
- Songbooks and choral publications.
- Music education method books that are primarily notation.
Do not use ISMN on audio recordings (use ISRC), music theory books without notation (use ISBN), or music periodicals (use ISSN).
Printing requirements
ISMN barcodes follow standard EAN-13 specifications: nominal size 37.29 mm × 26.26 mm, magnification 80%–200%. Print on a white or light background panel. The human-readable 'ISMN 979-0-XXXX-XXXX-X' should appear above or below the barcode. Contact your national ISMN agency for any country-specific placement guidelines.
Common scanning failures
ISMN barcodes are subject to the same EAN-13 printing failure modes: insufficient quiet zones, low contrast on coloured cover art, and bar width deviation from ink bleed. Music publications often feature elaborate cover designs — always place the barcode on a clean white panel separate from background graphics.
Comparison
| Feature | ISMN | ISBN-13 | ISSN |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS1 Prefix | 9790 | 978 or 979 (non-0) | 977 |
| Publication Type | Printed music notation | Books | Serials |
| Issuing Body | ISMN national agency | ISBN national agency | ISSN national centre |
| Audio recordings? | No (use ISRC) | No | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ISMN and ISBN for music?
ISMN (prefix 9790) is specifically for printed music notation (scores, parts, songbooks with notation). ISBN covers books about music, music history, and lyrics-only volumes. If the publication is primarily musical notation, use ISMN.
Where do I get an ISMN?
Apply to your national ISMN agency. A directory is available at ismn-international.org. Many national agencies that handle ISBN also handle ISMN.
Is ISMN the same as ISRC?
No. ISMN identifies printed music publications. ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) identifies sound recordings and music videos. A song may have both an ISRC (for the recording) and an ISMN (for the printed score).
Can a standard barcode scanner read an ISMN barcode?
Yes. ISMN barcodes are EAN-13 and are read by all standard GS1-compliant barcode scanners.
What happened to the old 10-character ISMN starting with M?
The old ISMN (e.g., M-XXX-XXXXX-X) was a 10-character format. In 2008, it was replaced by the 13-digit ISMN aligned with EAN-13/ISBN-13 format. Old M-prefix ISMNs are converted to 13-digit by prepending '979-0' and recalculating the check digit.
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