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Radio Independents Group relaunches as AudioUK

Its RIGtrain training and skills development arm will meanwhile become known as Audiotrain

The UK Government, along with leading industry organisations including Audible UK, Panoply, the British Podcast Awards, Penguin Random House, the BBC and Radiocentre, have all welcomed the relaunch of the Radio Independents Group (RIG) as AudioUK.

AudioUK is the trade association for UK audio production companies. Its RIGtrain training and skills development arm will now become known as Audiotrain.

AudioUK has nearly 100 member companies based across the whole of the UK which are involved in one or more of the following audio-led production activities: podcasts; audiobooks; audio games; radio programme-making; radio station branding; radio production training; corporate marketing; digital content; studio hire; visualised audio; live comedy production; audio CD production; radio jingles.

Radio Independents Group (RIG) was formed in 2004 to campaign for greater access to the BBC Radio schedules and fairer BBC terms of trade. It has made considerable gains in this area whilst also working to grow other markets in commercial radio and beyond traditional radio programme making.

“Working closely with the BBC, we achieved a big step forward for radio production in the 2016 BBC Charter Review, with a minimum of 60 per cent of non-news BBC Radio content to be open for competition by the end of 2022,” said Phil Critchlow, AudioUK chair and CEO of TBI Media. “The next challenge is to maximise creative and commercial opportunities for the audio production sector across all its other markets, in the UK and internationally.

“Many audiobook and podcast producers are already among our nearly 100 member companies, spread across the UK. Reflecting that wider industry in our brand will help us put audio production at the heart of the UK’s successful creative industries.”

Caroline Raphael, AudioUK vice-chair and owner of Dora Productions, said: “We are the go-to place to access a creative network of professional audio production companies. Through strong representation, industry networks, training, and celebrating success via the Audio Production Awards, we will ensure the best environment for the sector to thrive, including companies outside London. This is reflected in our core priorities: Business, Representation, Community and Excellence.”

Steve Carsey, senior director, Original Content, Audible UK, added: “Having access to a wide range of audio production partners, from established companies to emerging talent is crucial to supplying new and innovative content to our growing audience. We look forward to working with AudioUK to help build an ever-stronger UK audio production sector.”