The UK government released their Creative Industries sector plan today, you can read the full document here. AudioUK has responded with the following statement:
“AudioUK welcomes the publication of the UK Government’s sector plan for the Creative Industries. We are encouraged by the government’s commitment to supporting the sector, and its recognition of the Creative Industries’ vital role in driving prosperity across the UK. However, we are disappointed that podcasting and audio continue to be overlooked in this vision.
Podcasting and audio are no longer fringe media. They are vibrant, fast-growing industries that reach millions of listeners, create thousands of jobs, and showcase British creativity to the world. At the current estimate, the UK podcast and audio industry is worth £5 billion annually, with all projections showing increasingly rapid growth.
Every week, one in four UK adults listens to a podcast. Many of these shows are written, produced, and distributed by British companies – often outside of London – contributing to global reach and influence, local economies and regional talent pipelines.
British podcast and audio storytelling is exporting soft power and winning global acclaim, from chart-topping comedy to award-winning narrative journalism. It is also one of the most accessible and inclusive creative formats: it requires little equipment, invites diverse voices, and fosters experimentation from the grassroots up.
Despite this, and despite much advocacy work from AudioUK on the behalf of our sector at government level, podcasting and audio remain excluded from the government’s definition of the Creative Industries – a definition that shapes public investment, policy focus, and tax support. This exclusion stifles innovation, ignores opportunity, and holds back an industry that has already proven its impact.
For politicians to continue to appear across many podcasts – often using them for their own advocacy work – without recognising this vital sector as a Creative Industry, is baffling. While other creative sectors benefit from targeted support, podcasting and audio continue to be left behind – despite their proven cultural and economic value.
Through AudioUK’s policy and advocacy work, we continue to call on the UK Government to:
- Formally recognise podcasting and audio as part of the Creative Industries.
- Include podcast and audio producers on policymaking bodies, primarily the Creative Industries Council.
- Introduce targeted support, including a Tax Relief, and Global IP Fund, to fuel growth and investment.
- Ensure future strategic plans fully incorporate the potential of podcasting and audio across skills, exports, and regional development.
The UK has long been a world leader in broadcasting and storytelling. To maintain that leadership in a digital age, the government must give podcasting and audio the recognition and support they deserve.”