Podcasting and audio have been officially recognised in the UK’s Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2026 framework.
The UK Government confirmed that ‘podcast and other audio publishing activities’ will fall under subclass 59.222, while ‘podcasting and other sound recording activities’ will be subclass 59.212 under the new classification framework.
The new SIC codes will alter how podcast and audio companies are categorised across government and financial systems.
Chris Baughen, CEO of Audio UK, which played a key role in securing the change, described it as a “major milestone” for the industry.
Baughen said: “Formal recognition within the SIC framework helps validate the scale, value and economic contribution of podcast and audio businesses and marks an important step toward ensuring audio businesses are properly represented across government, finance and the wider creative economy.”
The trade body advocated for the accurate classification of the sector alongside the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and the BBC.
SIC codes influence how lenders assess companies, determine eligibility for funding and support schemes, and underpin how sectors are measured and represented in official data.
Until now, many podcast and audio businesses have operated within categories that did not accurately reflect the nature of podcast production, publishing, or audio-led business models, making it difficult to monitor industry growth or scale.
The UK’s wider creative industries contribute £124bn GVA and supports 2.4m jobs, making this classification an important step to ensure podcasting and audio’s contribution is properly understood, measured, and supported.
A spokesperson for Radiocentre said: “It’s welcome that the Government recognises the increasing importance of podcasts to the audio sector and the economy. However, in order to ensure future growth prospects in this market, the Government should now also take the opportunity to rule out BBC advertising on its podcasts across all platforms.”
The new SIC 2026 framework will be implemented in stages, with full adoption expected by 2031.
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