The Radio Academy has announced it will change its name to The Audio Academy from January next year.
The rebrand was revealed at The Radio Academy Festival 2025 by Chair Helen Thomas, who said the new name better reflects the wider audio industry while continuing to support UK radio.
It leaves our industry – listened to by 86% of the adult population – without a dedicated cross-sector Academy, and comes after our dedicated radio industry awards opened itself up to non-radio submissions when the Audio and Radio Industry Awards were created in 2016.
Helen explained that fewer than 40% of members now describe themselves as working solely in radio, with many engaged in podcasts, streaming and other audio sectors.
She added: “While we are proud of our history and passionate about our past, we want to reflect the reality of today’s industry. From January next year we will become The Audio Academy.”
Founded in 1983, the charity has built a reputation for supporting and promoting talent across the radio and audio sector. Its calendar of events includes the Audio & Radio Industry Awards (ARIAS), which last year introduced new categories such as Audio Brand of the Year, won by Gary Lineker’s production company, Goalhanger.
The Audio Academy says it will continue to bring people together from across the industry and champion excellence in all forms of audio, while widening its reach to ensure greater representation.
The UK radio sector remains strong, with over 86% of adults listening to the radio weekly, while podcast audiences continue to grow. Research by Edison shows that more than half of UK adults listened to a podcast in the past month.
The Radio Academy adds that the rebrand is intended to signal a broader, more inclusive approach that reflects the diversity of today’s industry and looks to the future of audio in the UK.