ISMN Validator & Generator

Validate International Standard Music Numbers (ISMN) for sheet music using the official EAN-13 checksum algorithm. Generate valid ISMNs for music cataloging.

ISMN Validator

About ISMN

Structure: A modern ISMN (since 2008) is a 13-digit number starting with the prefix 979-0.

Checksum: It uses the same EAN-13 algorithm as ISBN-13 (weights 1 and 3 alternately).

Purpose: Uniquely identifies printed music publications worldwide.

ISMN Generator

Disclaimer: Generated numbers are for testing purposes. They represent valid ISMN formats but may not correspond to actual music publications.

What is an ISMN?

The International Standard Music Number (ISMN) is a unique 13-digit identifier for printed music. It is based on the ISO 10957 standard and is used by publishers, music retailers, and libraries.

The 979-0 Prefix

All current ISMNs begin with 979-0. This distinguishs them from ISBNs (which use 978 or the remainder of 979) within the EAN-13 barcoding system.

Evolution

Before 2008, ISMNs were 10 characters long, starting with 'M'. These have all been converted to the 13-digit 979-0 format to align with global retail standards.