April 8, 2026

What Is an IPI Number and How Do You Find Yours?

Every songwriter, composer, and music publisher has a unique identifier that ties them to their creative works across the global music industry. That identifier is your IPI number. Without it, collection societies have no reliable way to match a performance or stream back to you - which means royalties you have already earned can sit uncollected, and after a holding period, get redistributed to major publishers based on market share. Understanding what your IPI number is and where to find it is one of the most practically important steps you can take as a music creator.

What Is an IPI Number?

What IPI Stands For and What It Actually Does

IPI stands for Interested Parties Information. The number itself is a nine-digit code maintained by SUISA, the Swiss performing rights organization, on behalf of the international IPI database. Think of it as a Social Security number for your creative identity.

IPI Number at a Glance

Format: 9-digit numeric code (e.g., 00123456789)
Maintained by: SUISA on behalf of the international IPI database
Assigned by: Your PRO (ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC) when you register
Applies to: Songwriters, composers, lyricists, and music publishers
Scope: Recognized by collection societies and digital platforms worldwide

Every time one of your compositions is performed on radio, streamed on Spotify, played in a venue, or synced to a TV show, your IPI number is the thread that connects the usage back to you. Without it, collection societies and digital service providers have no reliable way to match a performance to the correct rights holder - meaning your money can sit uncollected or end up attributed to someone else.

The History of IPI vs. CAE Numbers

A common point of confusion: the difference between an IPI number and a CAE number. CAE stands for Compositeur, Auteur, Editeur (French for Composer, Author, Publisher) and was the original international identification standard before the IPI system replaced it in 2001.

The practical reality: your old CAE number and your current IPI number are often the exact same nine-digit code. The terminology changed; the number typically did not. If you see either label on a registration document, contract, or split sheet, they refer to the same underlying identifier. Some older databases and publishing agreements still reference CAE numbers - do not be alarmed when you encounter it.

How to Find Your Personal IPI Number

If you are already registered with a performing rights organization, you already have an IPI number. The challenge is simply knowing where to look.

Locating Your Code via BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC Portals

PRO	Where to Find Your IPI	What It’s Labeled
BMI	BMI Online Services → songwriter or publisher profile page	Listed alongside your account number
ASCAP	ASCAP account → My Profile or Member Info	Labeled as your IPI/CAE number
SESAC	Check welcome documentation or contact SESAC directly	Listed as IPI number

⚠️ Name Consistency Is Critical

Your legal name must appear character-for-character identically across every platform where you are registered — your PRO, the MLC, SoundExchange, and your distributor.

A missing middle initial or an inconsistent suffix like “Jr.” can cause matching failures that delay or misdirect your royalties. Verify your name spelling when locating your IPI and correct any discrepancies before they compound.

Using Public Repertoire Searches to Find Publisher IPIs

ASCAP and BMI both offer free public repertoire databases where you can search by songwriter name, publisher name, or song title to find associated IPI numbers. CISAC’s global database is an additional resource for international lookups.

These tools are particularly useful when completing split sheets or co-writing agreements - you can verify a collaborator’s IPI before submitting any registration rather than discovering an error months later when royalties fail to route correctly. Make it a habit to cross-reference every co-writer’s IPI using these public tools before finalizing paperwork.

How to Get Your IPI Number If You Don’t Have One Yet

If you have never registered with a PRO, you do not yet have an IPI number. The good news is that obtaining one is straightforward and costs nothing with most organizations.

Joining ASCAP or BMI: Where Your IPI Comes From

Registering with a PRO is the standard path to receiving your IPI. BMI is free for songwriters (publishers pay a one-time $150 fee). ASCAP charges a one-time $50 registration fee for both writers and publishers. SESAC operates on an invitation-only basis. Once your application is processed, the PRO submits your information to the international IPI database and a unique number is generated for you.

One important reminder: PRO registration covers your performance royalties only. Mechanical royalties from streaming require separate registration with the MLC, and digital performance royalties from non-interactive platforms like Pandora require registration with SoundExchange. Your IPI number will be referenced across all of these registrations, so getting it first puts everything else in order.

Timeline for IPI Assignment After Registration

Most PROs assign your IPI number within two to eight weeks of completing registration. ASCAP tends to process applications faster, sometimes within days. BMI can take a few weeks longer. During this waiting period you can still register your songs, but compositions may not appear in international databases until your IPI is fully active. Once assigned, the number is yours permanently - it follows you even if you switch PROs later.

How Your IPI Number Helps You Collect Music Publishing Royalties

Linking Works to Your Identity for Accurate Payouts

Each composition you register gets linked to your IPI number, creating a direct chain from the song to your account. When a radio station in Germany plays your track, the local collection society identifies the work, matches it to your IPI through reciprocal agreements with your home PRO, and routes the payment accordingly. Without this link, international royalties in particular are vulnerable to falling into unmatched royalty pools with no forwarding address.

Avoiding Common Metadata Errors in Royalty Collection

Metadata errors are the most common reason songwriters lose royalties they have already earned. The most frequent mistakes: misspelled names on split sheets, incorrect IPI numbers entered for co-writers, and compositions registered without all contributors listed. Each error can push a composition into an unmatched pool where it accumulates without flowing to anyone.

Before submitting any registration, verify every collaborator’s IPI using the public repertoire search tools above. Pair your IPI with an ISWC for the composition and an ISRC for each recording to build a complete metadata profile that minimizes matching failures across every platform. Mogul’s Royalty Finder scans your catalog to identify registrations where metadata gaps are likely causing collection issues - a useful audit before those gaps compound into lost income.

Got Your IPI? Make Sure Your Catalog Is Using It

Mogul’s Royalty Finder scans your registered works for metadata gaps — so your IPI is actually connected across every royalty source and not sitting unused.

Scan your catalog →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than one IPI number?

You will have one IPI number as a songwriter and a separate IPI number for each publishing entity you own. If you create a self-publishing company, that entity gets its own IPI distinct from your personal writer IPI. Both numbers are yours - they simply identify you in two different roles within the rights system. When registering works, you will typically need to reference both your writer IPI and your publisher IPI for the ownership splits to be complete.

What if I registered with both ASCAP and BMI by mistake?

Songwriters can only be affiliated with one PRO at a time. If you inadvertently registered with both, contact one of the organizations to withdraw - you cannot collect performance royalties from two PROs simultaneously. Your IPI number will remain with the organization you stay registered with. Note that your publishing entity can technically be affiliated with a different PRO than you as a writer, though this is uncommon for independent artists managing their own catalog.

Does my IPI number change if I switch from BMI to ASCAP?

Usually not. The IPI is assigned at the international database level, not by your individual PRO. When you switch organizations, your existing IPI typically transfers with you and remains the same nine-digit number. Verify this directly with your new PRO during the transfer process to confirm continuity, and update any split sheets or co-publishing agreements that reference your IPI to ensure they still reflect accurate information.

Is my IPI number public information?

Yes. IPI numbers are publicly searchable through ASCAP’s and BMI’s online repertoire databases, as well as through CISAC’s international tools. This is intentional - the system is designed to allow music supervisors, publishers, co-writers, and collection societies to verify rights holders and confirm ownership details. There is nothing sensitive about sharing your IPI number; in fact, providing it readily on split sheets and collaboration agreements is a professional best practice that speeds up registration and reduces disputes.

What Is an IPI Number and How Do You Find Yours?

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What Is an IPI Number and How Do You Find Yours?

Know an artist who should read this?

Take Hold of your

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