AudioUK has launched a major public policy campaign urging the UK Government to formally recognise podcasting and audio as a core part of the country’s creative industries.
The industry body says podcasting and audio are thriving creatively, culturally, and commercially, yet remain overlooked by policymakers despite their rapid growth and significant economic contribution.
It says podcast listening in the UK has more than doubled over the past five years, with particular growth among people under 24.
The industry is now worth an estimated £5 billion a year, driven by its wide reach, innovation, and intellectual property potential. AudioUK says it is one of the fastest-growing creative sectors in the world, with annual growth rates of 20 to 30 percent compared to single-digit or mid-teens elsewhere.
More than half of AudioUK’s member businesses operate outside London, creating local jobs, offering training, and platforming regional stories and voices. At the same time, British podcasts such as The Rest Is Politics, The Rest Is History, Traitors: Uncloaked, Kill List and The Magnus Archives reach billions of listeners worldwide, and have proven their influence on a global scale.
However, podcasting and audio received minimal mention in the government’s recent Creative Industries Sector Plan.
Unlike film, TV, and digital games, the sector receives no tailored public funding, is largely excluded from policy discussions at the Creative Industries Council and is missing from national creative workforce data.
AudioUK is calling on the government to formally recognise podcasting and audio as part of the Creative Industries, include a representative on the Creative Industries Council, introduce targeted support such as Tax Relief and a Global IP Fund, commission a workforce and economic impact study, and ensure future plans incorporate the sector’s potential.
AudioUK is asking industry leaders to support its campaign by signing an open letter, sharing its social media posts throughout July and August, writing to local MPs, and submitting case studies via its website.
Chloe Straw, CEO of AudioUK, said: “At AudioUK, we have worked tirelessly to urge the Government to recognise the enormous economic and cultural value of podcasting and audio.
“While it was not a surprise to be left out as a formally recognised creative industry in the Sector Plan, it was still hugely frustrating – especially given the clear evidence we provided around the sector’s rapid and continuing growth and impact.
“As a sector that reaches billions of people – both in the UK and internationally – and has strong roots and economic impact across the UK, being excluded from targeted support feels like a major oversight.
“The campaign invites all creators, listeners, cultural organisations, and policymakers to join the call to action and help elevate podcasting and audio to its rightful place in the national creative economy.”
