For: Releasing artists (RA) who noticed the barcode or track codes can't be changed You'll need: A submitted or live release Time: 4 minutes to read
The barcode (UPC) on your release and the ISRC on each track are permanent identifiers. Once they're set, they don't change, not on Collabhouse, not on Spotify, not anywhere. Here's what they are and why.
Quick answer
A UPC is the barcode that identifies your whole release (single, EP, or album). An ISRC is a code that identifies an individual recording. Both are assigned automatically and become permanent the moment the release leaves draft (UPC) or the moment the audio is accepted (ISRC). After that, they're displayed but never editable, even by us.
What each code is for
UPC (Universal Product Code) — the release-level barcode. Streaming services, royalty collection societies, and stores use it to identify "this exact release." One per release.
ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) — the recording-level code. One per track. Streaming services use it to link plays to the right recording and pay royalties.
Catalog number — an internal reference number we assign so labels and our team can track the release. Also fixed after submit.
When each one locks
UPC locks when the release moves out of draft. The moment you click Submit for review, the barcode is final.
ISRC locks when the audio for a track is accepted by our distribution partner. In practice that means after the upload finishes processing.
Track order locks when the release status reaches approved — streaming services treat track 3 of an album as a fixed identity, not a position you can shuffle later.
Why it works this way
Streaming services use the UPC and ISRC as the master keys that connect everything: streams, royalty statements, playlist placements, "this song appears on" links, your Spotify-for-Artists page, even credit on YouTube Content ID. If we changed the UPC after a release went live, every one of those connections would break — playlists would lose the track, royalties would route to a code that no longer exists, and the release would effectively disappear from search. The fix is to set the codes once, early, and never touch them again.
If you genuinely need a new code (very rare — typically only when a release is taken down and re-released as a different product), the answer is a new release on Collabhouse, not editing the codes on the existing one.
Common problems
You typed the wrong UPC in by mistake — if you're still in draft, you can change it; after submit, contact support. Don't resubmit to "force" a new code — submit assigns one and locks it.
Two tracks ended up with the same ISRC — shouldn't happen, but contact support if it does. Don't try to fix it by re-uploading.
You already have a UPC from a previous distributor — in draft, you can enter your existing UPC instead of letting us assign one. After submit, this becomes permanent.
You see "UPC source" next to the code — that just tells you who assigned it (us or you in draft). The code itself is locked either way.