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UPC Code InformationBy: Dante FerrariniDante Ferrarini is the Art Director for the NEMO Music Conference, and the Kahlua Boston Music Awards - he is also the owner of Rabid Iguana Audio/Visual, an art oriented CD manufacturing firm. Contact: Rabid Iguana Audio/Visual (617) 787-7761 |
| Are UPC codes really needed? Here's my experience - UPC codes are mainly used to track sales of your record (Soundscan is the company that tabulates this info, Billboard is one of the magazines that print the charts, etc.). One thing to keep in mind is that usually, sales of a 1000 or less don't even figure. Therefore, for groups that are getting the standard 1000 CDs the purpose is basically useless (most of the time half are used for promo: reviews, radio, shopping and half sell, maybe!) Your record will most likely not figure on any Soundscan reports, and if you're trying to get A&R attention by appearing on these reports, you'll have to sell a little more! If you don't really care about the soundscan/A&R scenario and are plainly interested in tracking your sales, it's a different story: still problems exist: If you're selling your CD through consignment; some stores will use your barcode, which is what you want, but some other stores like to use their own codes for indie music, which means that they stick a new UPC label on the CD - your code is rendered useless again. Do they help or hinder distribution? If your product is being at least regionally distributed (at least 5000 copies or so) it definitely helps, as I said above, then you could actually use the code to track where you sell, how many CDs per store, region, etc. (sort of like a web counter and status logs) I don't genuinely see much help for a band that does consignment regionally and sells CDs at shows (in fact, much debate has come out of the question, Can we scan and track CDs sold at shows? The answer is basically yes, if you have the proper (expensive) equipment - or keep extremely efficient records, in which case you'll have to deal with decent amounts of legal paperwork) Any advice on obtaining a single code for distribution of a single album? Or information on requirements for obtaining a product code? You can get free codes from most reputable duplicators, and use them. But, the flip side is that registering these codes as your very own will be a bit difficult. Here's a quick overview of a barcode for a CD. The UPC code is composed 12 digits: (example: 794465-57772-5) 1. The first six (794465) are given as a Manufacturer's Identification. When you file with the UCC (Uniform Code Council) they issue a 6-digit code that allows the recipient to use the UPC system (ie. a company code). The last time we checked, it was approximately $600-$800 for the filing. When you get a free UPC from a duplicator the first 6 numbers are THEIR company numbers (good for small indie bands who need a UPC cheap and probably won't use that digit to sell millions of CDs, NOT for independent labels with medium distribution) 2. The next four number are numbers for you to catalog (0001, 0002, etc. these four digits is what you get from a duplicator) as you wish. 3. The 11th number specifies the product type (2 is a CD, 4 is a cassette) 4. The last number is a check code (the computer calculates the numbers and comes with a verify digit for the code) The information above should eliminate the basic questions any musician usually asks when putting out a CD with their first UPC code on it. Please note that there are many intricate, bureaucratic details that pertain to this subject - it's always best to inform yourself as much as possible, especially as an independent artist today. For more details please check websites such as this one: How Stuff Works - UPC More Information: Soundscan, Inc. 220 North Central Avenue Hartsdale NY 10530-1911 (914) 328-9100 |