What is a UPC barcode and why do I need one?
A UPC barcode is a unique 12-digit serial number that identifies your specific product (in this case, an album) amongst all the other products on the marketplace. You need a UPC if you want to: • take advantage of our digital distribution program • take advantage of our in-store distribution program • have CD Baby report your sales to Soundscan. This is because all of these organizations track and report sales based on the UPC code. If you already have a UPC code for your album, you can use that one. If not, you can easily purchase one from us. We can make you your own permanent UPC barcode for only $20. You may have heard that UPC barcodes cost $750. You could go register as a company with the GS1 US organization, and pay them $750 to be a GS1 US member. They would assign you a UPC prefix, and you could release thousands of products under that company registration. But most of us independent artists are only going to release a few records – and paying $750 wipes out all the profit you
