512290 Other Sound Recording Industries

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing sound recording services (except record production, distribution, music publishing, and sound recording in a studio). Establishments in this industry provide services, such as the audio recording of meetings and conferences.

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.
• Record production and/or releasing, promoting, and distributing sound recordings are classified in Industry 512250, Record Production and Distribution.
• Providing mass duplication of recorded products are classified in Industry 334610, Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media.
• Organizing and promoting the presentation of performing arts productions are classified in Industry Group 7113, Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events.

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

Activities listed under 512290

The Census index assigns these 7 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

• Audio recording of meetings or conferences
• Producers, recorded radio shows (except independent producers)
• Radio program recording production (except independent producers)
• Recording books on tape or disc (except publishers)
• Recording seminars and conferences, audio
• Stock music and other audio services
• Stock sound library (e.g., general background sounds, stock music)

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 512290

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 512290, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $22.5 million in average annual receipts. 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
• 512250Record Production and Distribution