The International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) agency and Universal Music Group (UMG) have established a groundbreaking partnership, with UMG becoming one of approximately 35 ISNI registration agencies. This collaboration marks a significant advancement in creator identification and rights management within the music industry.


UMG has already implemented ISNI identifiers for over 100,000 contributors, including artists, songwriters, and other professionals. The system provides unique identifiers that:

• Reduce confusion between similarly named artists
• Minimize manual work for DSPs (Digital Service Providers)
• Support multiple language variations of artist names
• Connect records across different systems and databases

The ISNI system functions as a bridging identifier, linking UMG's systems with:

• Collection societies' international performer numbers (IPNs)
• Various rights management databases
• Revenue tracking systems

This integration provides creators with a comprehensive view of their:

• Recordings
• Works
• Revenue streams
• Professional collaborations

Kim Beauchamp, UMG's SVP of process innovation and advanced operations, emphasizes that this partnership represents a crucial step toward improved creator recognition and compensation. The system becomes particularly relevant as the industry faces challenges from AI-generated content and complex royalty distribution requirements.

Tim Devenport, ISNI International Agency executive director, notes that UMG's vast catalog and commitment to accurate creator identification will drive industry-wide improvements, benefiting artists, rights holders, and service providers alike.

This partnership addresses current industry challenges while positioning the music ecosystem for future developments, including potential separation of AI-generated and human-created works on streaming platforms.

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