512250 Record Production and Distribution

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in record production and/or releasing, promoting, and distributing sound recordings to wholesalers, retailers, or directly to the public. These establishments contract with artists, arrange and finance the production of original master recordings, and/or produce master recordings themselves, such as digital music and compact discs. Establishments in this industry hold the copyright to the master recording, or obtain reproduction and distribution rights to master recordings produced by others, and derive most of their revenues from the sales, leasing, licensing, or distribution of master recordings.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

• Promoting and authorizing the use of musical works in various media are classified in Industry 512230, Music Publishers.
• Providing facilities and technical expertise for recording musical performances are classified in Industry 512240, Sound Recording Studios.
• Operating radio broadcasting stations, that may acquire the right to distribute content and subsequently broadcast or distribute that content are classified in Industry 516110, Radio Broadcasting Stations.
• Operating radio broadcasting networks, including satellite radio networks, that may acquire the right to distribute content and subsequently broadcast or distribute that content are classified in Industry 516210, Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers.
• Mass duplication of recorded products are classified in Industry 334610, Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media.
• Merchant wholesale distribution of blank audio compact discs are classified in Industry 423690, Other Electronic Parts and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers.
• Merchant wholesale distribution of prerecorded audio compact discs are classified in Industry 423990, Other Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers.
• Retailing downloadable music files and compact discs without producing recordings are classified in Sector 44-45, Retail Trade.
• Managing the careers of artists are classified in Industry 711410, Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures.
• Producing albums on contract as independent producers are classified in Industry 711510, Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers.
• Producing live musical entertainment (except theatrical musical or opera productions) and independent (i.e., freelance) artists primarily engaged in providing live musical entertainment are classified in Industry 711130, Musical Groups and Artists.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Businesses that use this code

• Recording studio or music producer

Activities listed under 512250

The Census index assigns these 10 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

• Integrated record companies (i.e., releasing, promoting, distributing)
• Integrated record production and distribution
• Master recording leasing and licensing
• Musical recording, releasing, promoting, and distributing
• Prerecorded audio tapes and compact discs integrated manufacture, release, and distribution
• Record producers (except independent)
• Record production (except independent record producers) without duplication or distribution
• Record releasing, promoting, and distributing combined with mass duplication
• Sound recording, integrated production, reproduction, release, and distribution
• Sound recording, releasing, promoting, and distributing

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 512250

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 512250, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed 900 employees. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 5920), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

• 59200Sound recording and music publishing activitiesUK SIC

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.

Similar codes to compare

• 512230Music Publishers
• 512240Sound Recording Studios
• 512290Other Sound Recording Industries