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# Why Every Artist Needs an IPI Number
- URL: https://blog.nexatunes.com/why-every-artist-needs-an-ipi-number/
- Published: 2025-05-22T10:00:29.000Z
- Updated: 2025-05-23T05:19:31.000Z
- Description: What is an IPI Number? IPI stands for Interested Party Information. It’s a unique international identifier that gets assigned to songwriters, composers, lyricists, and publishers when they register with a collection society like GEMA, SACEM, BMI, ASCAP, PRS and others.
- Author: NexaTunes Distribution
- Tags: Rights & Publishing

**Understanding the Backbone of Music Royalties**

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## **What is an IPI Number?**

IPI stands for **Interested Party Information**.

It’s a unique international identifier that gets assigned to **songwriters, composers, lyricists, and publishers** when they register with a collection society like **GEMA, SACEM, BMI, ASCAP, PRS** and others.

Think of it as your “royalty fingerprint” in the music industry.

Without it, your work may be **invisible** in the systems that pay out publishing royalties.

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## **Who Needs an IPI?**

If you:

- Write lyrics
- Compose melodies
- Co-write songs
- Want to collect royalties from radio, TV, streaming, public performances, or sync

… then **yes**, you absolutely need one.

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## **Why It Matters**

Here’s what an IPI number enables:

- You get **officially linked** to your songs in international databases
- Your **collection society** can track usage of your work across the globe
- Royalties can be distributed to you (instead of someone else)
- It allows **distributors, publishers, and sync agents** to correctly credit and pay you

Without it, even if your song is streamed millions of times, the publishing royalties might:

- Go to the wrong person
- Sit in a “black box” waiting for a match
- Expire and get lost over time

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## **Real-World Example**

Imagine this:

You write a song, it gets placed on a popular Spotify playlist. The streaming revenue for the master goes to your distributor – great.

But what about the **publishing royalties**?

They go to the collection societies.

And guess what? If they don’t find your **IPI number** attached to that composition – **you get nothing.**

That money either gets sent to someone with a similar name – or sits unclaimed.

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## **How Do You Get an IPI Number?**

You get one **automatically** when you register as a writer with any major performance rights organization (PRO).

Here’s how:

- In Germany: Register with **GEMA**
- In France: Register with **SACEM**
- In the US: Register with **BMI** or **ASCAP**
- In the UK: Register with **PRS for Music**

You don’t need to release a song first.

**Get registered before you release anything.**

(You find attached a list with the common PRO for download)

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## **Where Do You Use the IPI?**

Everywhere you enter your metadata as a writer:

- When submitting your track to a distributor
- When registering the composition with a publishing service
- When negotiating sync licenses
- When listing credits on YouTube, Spotify, or SoundCloud (where possible)

It tells the world: **“This song was written by me – and here’s the proof.”**

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## **What Labels Should Know**

If you’re a label working with songwriters or producers:

- Always ask for their **IPI numbers upfront**
- Make it a mandatory field in your metadata intake
- Help new artists understand how to register, or send them directly to their local society

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## **Final Thoughts**

Getting your IPI number is free (or very low cost, depending on the country).

But **not having it can cost you thousands** in missed royalties – especially if your track gains traction.

So: **If you’re writing songs, get your IPI today.**

It’s one of the easiest and most important steps in protecting your rights and income.

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[Worldwide\_PRO\_List\_NexaTunesDownload a contact list of the most common PRO societies. Worldwide\_PRO\_List\_NexaTunes.pdf97 KBdownload-circle](https://blog.nexatunes.com/content/files/2025/05/Worldwide%5FPRO%5FList%5FNexaTunes.pdf "Download")

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