International Standard Music Numbers (ISMNs)
About ISMNs
ISMNs are an international system created in 1993 specifically for printed music publications, and are to printed music what ISBNs are to books. They were designed to rationalise the processing and handling of printed music as well as the respective bibliographic data. The Music Publishers Association is the National Agency for the dissemination of ISMNs in the UK & Eire.
Why use ISMNs?
The ISMN has many advantages for publishing houses – companies or individuals - as well as the music trade and libraries. ISMNs serve as a unique identifier for monographic publications (from the manuscript through all editorial and manufacturing processes until the book is finished); stock control; ordering; accounting and billing; handling of returns; Music in Print directories; teleordering; EPOS (Electronic Point-Of-Sale) systems; information retrieval; circulation and interlending and the national music bibliography.
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As part of the ISMN scheme publisher prefixes are listed in the Music Publishers’ International ISMN Directory, and information on publications and their ISMNs are included on the MPA Catalogue of Printed Music..
To join the ISMN scheme
Any publisher who is publishing a qualifying product (see Scope of the ISMN) for general sale or distribution to the market is eligible for ISMNs. By "publishing" we mean making a work available to the public.
Companies or individuals wishing to participate in the ISMN scheme should print and complete the attached documents (click icons to open/download):
ISMN Application Formismn_application.pdf
(74.2 KB)
ISMN Agreement
agreement.pdf
(112.0 KB)
If you require copies of these documents to be sent to you by post, please contact the MPA (see contact details below).
The ISMN Users' Manual may be viewed by clicking here and should be read before signing the Agreement. The Manual gives a clear picture of how to allocate the numbers, but again, please contact the MPA (see contact details below) if you have any queries or require a hard copy version.
On completion of the forms please return both documents, together with your cheque (for fees please see the ISMN Agreement above), to the MPA (address below). Your application will be processed as quickly as possible, but if payment is not received in advance an invoice will be sent by return of post and the application confirmed once your cheque is received.
Once your application is confirmed, you will be required to complete a Report Form for each work assigned an ISMN.
David Butler
UK ISMN Agency
MPA
6th Floor, British Music House
26 Berners Street
London W1T 3LR
UK
Tel: 020 7637 4052
e-mail: dbutler@mpaonline.org.uk