# MusicBrainz API: Get song identifiers

> Finds the best-matching studio recording on MusicBrainz for a song title and artist. Returns its ISRCs, first release date and up to 25 of its earliest releases.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MusicBrainz.

- Page: https://fous.com/methods/musicbrainz.org/get-song-identifiers
- Method: `musicbrainz.org/get_song_identifiers`, version 1
- Website: musicbrainz.org
- Returns: title, artist, length, ISRCs, first release date, recording link, earliest releases
- Effect: read (it gets data and changes nothing)
- Sign-in: none needed
- Cost: 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free
- Verified: Nov 2, 2026

## Inputs

| Field | Type | Required | In the run below | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `song` | string | yes | `"Smells Like Teen Spirit"` | Song title, for example Bohemian Rhapsody. |
| `artist` | string | yes | `"Nirvana"` | Performing artist, for example Queen. |

## Output

From a run on Oct 23, 2026, shortened. Its input:

```json
{
  "song": "Smells Like Teen Spirit",
  "artist": "Nirvana"
}
```

Its output:

```json
{
  "title": "Smells Like Teen Spirit",
  "artist": "Nirvana",
  "length": "4:39",
  "releases": [
    {
      "date": "1991",
      "label": "DGC Records",
      "format": "12\" Vinyl",
      "barcode": null,
      "country": "United States",
      "release_id": "d57797a6-b862-3e01-8a6c-9d5dd42a1ef0",
      "release_title": "Smells Like Teen Spirit",
      "musicbrainz_link": "https://musicbrainz.org/release/d57797a6-b862-3e01-8a6c-9d5dd42a1ef0"
    },
    {
      "date": "1991",
      "label": "DGC Records",
      "format": "12\" Vinyl",
      "barcode": "720642171219",
      "country": "Germany",
      "release_id": "e272dc1c-fe22-3653-87ea-d4e4fef00b4d",
      "release_title": "Smells Like Teen Spirit",
      "musicbrainz_link": "https://musicbrainz.org/release/e272dc1c-fe22-3653-87ea-d4e4fef00b4d"
    },
    {
      "date": "1991",
      "label": "DGC Records",
      "format": "Vinyl",
      "barcode": "720642171219",
      "country": "France",
      "release_id": "f2a55fcb-ccc5-3a59-9214-d080af2c5911",
      "release_title": "Smells Like Teen Spirit",
      "musicbrainz_link": "https://musicbrainz.org/release/f2a55fcb-ccc5-3a59-9214-d080af2c5911"
    }
  ],
  "isrc_codes": [],
  "recording_id": "0ef2f43e-51d4-4930-9052-3820358044d5",
  "musicbrainz_link": "https://musicbrainz.org/recording/0ef2f43e-51d4-4930-9052-3820358044d5",
  "first_release_date": "1991-09-10",
  "length_milliseconds": 279933
}
```

## Run it

From code, with a Fous API key in `FOUS_API_KEY`; the answer's `data` holds the output:

```bash
curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"method":"musicbrainz.org/get_song_identifiers","input":{"song":"Smells Like Teen Spirit","artist":"Nirvana"}}'
```

From an AI agent connected to the Fous MCP server: its `run` with the same method and input. To connect one, give it `set up https://fous.com/SKILL.md`.

## Ask your agent

- Find the ISRC codes for the song Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
- What is the first release date of Hotel California by the Eagles?
- Get the earliest releases and recording link for Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana on MusicBrainz
- Look up the studio recording length and ISRCs for Imagine by John Lennon
- When was Billie Jean by Michael Jackson first released, and what were its earliest releases?

## Input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "song",
    "artist"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "song": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Song title, for example Bohemian Rhapsody."
    },
    "artist": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Performing artist, for example Queen."
    }
  }
}
```

## Output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "title",
    "artist",
    "length",
    "isrc_codes",
    "first_release_date",
    "musicbrainz_link",
    "recording_id",
    "length_milliseconds",
    "releases"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "title": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "artist": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "length": {
      "type": [
        "string",
        "null"
      ]
    },
    "releases": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
          "date": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "label": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "format": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "barcode": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "country": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "release_id": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "release_title": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "musicbrainz_link": {
            "type": "string"
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "isrc_codes": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "string"
      }
    },
    "recording_id": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "musicbrainz_link": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "first_release_date": {
      "type": [
        "string",
        "null"
      ]
    },
    "length_milliseconds": {
      "type": [
        "integer",
        "null"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## See more

- [MusicBrainz API: Get artist by name](https://fous.com/methods/musicbrainz.org/get-artist.md): Looks up an artist or band on MusicBrainz by name, optionally narrowed by country, and returns reference details, recorded members, aliases, genres and official links.
- [Deezer API: Get song details](https://fous.com/methods/deezer.com/get-song-details.md): Gets a Deezer song's tempo, ISRC, loudness gain and recording details from its title, track link or track ID. An artist name helps pick the right recording.
- [Spotify API: Get song](https://fous.com/methods/open.spotify.com/get-song.md): Finds a Spotify song by title (optionally narrowed by artist), track link, URI or track ID and returns its public play count and details. Without an artist, the most-played exact title match wins. Previews and ISRC may be unavailable for some tracks.
- [SongBPM API: Get song tempo and key](https://fous.com/methods/songbpm.com/get-song-tempo-and-key.md): Finds the best SongBPM match for a song title and artist and returns its tempo, musical key, Camelot key, length and time signature.
- [Discogs API: Get release](https://fous.com/methods/discogs.com/get-release.md): Finds a Discogs release by title, artist or release link and returns its edition details, tracks, community counts, current price and sold price statistics.
- [Apple API: Search songs](https://fous.com/methods/music.apple.com/search-songs.md): Searches the Apple Music song catalog by title and artist words, returning matching tracks in relevance order with prices and previews when available.
- [Genius API: List an artist's songs](https://fous.com/methods/genius.com/list-artist-songs.md): Lists an artist's songs on Genius by popularity or newest release date, with featured artists, release dates, page views and song art. The artist can be given by name or by Genius artist link; dates or views may be unavailable.
- [Songkick API: Get artist tour dates](https://fous.com/methods/songkick.com/get-artist-tour-dates.md): Gets an artist's upcoming concerts and tour dates on Songkick, optionally filtered by country, with ticket links and start times when listed.
- [All MusicBrainz methods](https://fous.com/methods/musicbrainz.org.md)