Further details in ECM Part 2

Part 2 of the ECM standard defines two JSON messages: MusicalWorkClusterNotification and MusicalWorkClusterRequest.

The MusicalWorkClusterNotification (see here) may serve as both the initial message and the response to a MusicalWorkClusterRequest, ensuring a consistent and complete representation of the cluster at the time of exchange.

The MusicalWorkClusterRequest can be used to explicitly request the recipient to send a MusicalWorkClusterNotification at any time. This functionality is particularly useful in scenarios where:

  • An update to a previously exchanged cluster is required (e.g., for internal analysis or reconciliation purposes); or

  • The requester has no information about members of the cluster for which data is requested.

The MusicalWorkClusterRequest (see here) enables a recipient to request clusters based on a musical work and/or a resource. Use of this message to start a communication is optional.

In most cases, the transmission of a MusicalWorkClusterNotification implicitly serves as a request for a response (unless the MusicalWorkClusterNotification is sent in response to an earlier MusicalWorkClusterNotification), eliminating the need for a separate MusicalWorkClusterRequest.

image-20260320-095147.jpeg

The clusters exchanged in a MusicalWorkClusterNotification message between business partners represent a statement of truth, as determined by the message sender, at a specific point in time. Verification of the accuracy, completeness, or legitimacy of the cluster information is outside the scope of this standard and must be addressed through separate governance, contractual, or operational processes.

Communication of clusters in accordance with this standard does not imply any modification, revocation, or replacement of ISRCs within a cluster.

However, the message does provide data points that allow the sender to indicate:

  • The level of Confidence for the inclusion of a resource as a ClusterMember in a cluster;

  • The LinkVerification actions undertaken to determine the inclusion of a resource (the ClusterMember) in a cluster; and

  • The MembershipType which indicates whether the cluster was created using an audio reference file, reference metadata, or both.

See also the article on MembershipType, LinkVerification, and Confidence in Cluster-Based Resource Identification.

Search