On International Standard Music Number (ISMN)
The International Standard Music Number (ISMN) identifies all printed music. The Danish ISMN office is located in Royal Danish Library.
Photo: Det Kgl. Bibliotek
If you publish sheet music or scores, we can help you assign an ISMN to the publication. This is done by contacting us.
ISMN (International Standard Music Number) is a number combination used to identify music - scores, voices, and so on - whether they are for sale, rent, or free use.
The purpose is to give the release a unique identity. With a unique identity, the handling of printed music becomes easier for both publishers, distributors and libraries.
The International ISMN Agency is responsible for the maintenance of the ISMN system, its standard and application.
The national/regional centers are responsible for assigning publishing numbers.
The publishers usually manage the title numbers themselves based on the allocated quota.
Instructions for using ISMN can be found on the International ISMN Agency's website.
There are a number of benefits to using ISMN. Among other:
- ensures fast and unambiguous identification
- simplifies and streamlines ordering and shipping procedures
- promotes the use of barcodes and other optically readable commodity codes
- enables communication with both internal and external systems
- is introduced in the Danish Music List
- scores
- miniature/study scores
- piano scores
- vocal set
- individual vocals when they can be acquired separately
- anthologies
- multimedia when printed music is part of the set (included in the set)
- lyrics when printed with the music
- songbooks (optional)
- microform releases
- Braille publications
- electronic publications
- books on music
- independent audio and video recordings
- series and other periodicals as a whole
