UK Podcasters Association

The UKPA was founded in April 2006 by a group of UK podcasters. It is a non-profit organisation set up to protect its members' rights and promote podcasting.

UKPA member benefits include discounted rates on commercial services, and free legal and technical advice. We have an inclusive outreach policy for training and education - we aim to empower those who wish to become podcasters.

Originally set up in response to licensing and legislative concerns, the UKPA has been actively involved in protecting podcasters' rights since the outset. Lobbying the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva, working with the Open Rights Group and the EFF in 2006 we succeeded in preventing the Broadcast Treaty from including podcasting - an outcome which would have had devastating effects on podcasting worldwide.

UKPA members also made the first concerted attempt in the UK to raise awareness in UK government about podcasting, promoting it's value as both a social freedom and an important and fast-developing part of the digital economy.

Whilst we believe it is vital to have a voice in any future legislation which affects what we do, UKPA is now an organisation which does much more than lobby, having become a dynamic group which includes businesses, freelancers, as well as podcast enthusiasts and private individuals.

The UKPA now represents around one half of the 500+ independent* podcasters in the UK [April 2007]. UKPA relies on member subscription and voluntary donations for our funding, and members' involvement for our success. In September 2006, members set the subscription at £3 per month for private podcasters, and £120 per year for professional organisations, institutions, and commercial companies. Full members vote on any major changes to the organisation, help to develop community strategies and share research and other data.

UKPA members enjoy preferential rates if they wish to use the AIM podcast licence. We are currently working to develop Creative Commons podcast licences specific to UK Law. UKPA is supporting the international Open Metrics initiative.

*independent = i.e. not national newspapers, mainstream publications or media channels

UKPA Trustees

Current Trustees of UKPA are:

Dean Whitbread (Chairman) Mark Crook (Secretary) and Paul Nicholls (Treasurer)

Affiliations

UKPA is affilliated with PodRepBod in Ireland, Podcastverband in Germany, Swecasters in Sweden, and Asociacion Podcasting in Spain.

UKPA is a member of the Association of Online Publishing.