Guides
Non-Roman alphabet records
CWR carries names and titles in non-Roman scripts through a family of N** records, each shadowing a Roman-alphabet record: NPA (party names), NPN (publisher names), NWN (writer names), NAT (titles), NET/NCT/NVT (entire work / component / version titles), NOW (other writers), NPR (performing artists). Each carries a language code alongside the original-script text.
The exact field layout — positions, sizes, and formats — is defined in CISAC's CWR specification (CWR19-1070R1), available to CISAC members and licensees. The validator implements the full layout: drop a file on it and every NPA / NPN / NWN / NAT line is parsed field by field, with problems tied to the exact characters at fault.
Two free checks for your CWR file. Is the file correct? Every record, share and control total against the spec, each problem on its exact line. Do its writers match their registrations? Every writer cross-checked against public registration data, including works registered under another spelling or IPI. Nothing stored: check a file at cwrcheck.com.