512230 — Music Publishers
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acquiring and registering copyrights for musical compositions in accordance with law and promoting and authorizing the use of these compositions in recordings, radio, television, motion pictures, live performances, print, or other media. Establishments in this industry represent the interests of the songwriter or other owners of musical compositions to produce revenues from the use of such works, generally through licensing agreements. These establishments may own the copyright or act as administrator of the music copyrights on behalf of copyright owners. Publishers of music books and sheet music are included in this industry (as defined in the official U.S. Census Bureau 2022 NAICS Manual).
Exclusions & Cross-References
- Establishments primarily engaged as independent songwriters who act as their own publishers are classified in
- Industry 711510, Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers.
Overview Facts
Legacy SIC Concordance
Trace the historical mapping chain from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) to the modern 2022 NAICS code format.
- SIC 2731 - Books: Publishing, or Publishing and Printing (via SIC1987:2731→NAICS1997:51223→2002:512230→2007:512230→2012:512230→2017:512230→2022:512230)
- SIC 2741 - Miscellaneous Publishing (via SIC1987:2741→NAICS1997:51223→2002:512230→2007:512230→2012:512230→2017:512230→2022:512230)
- SIC 8999 - Services, NEC (via SIC1987:8999→NAICS1997:51223→2002:512230→2007:512230→2012:512230→2017:512230→2022:512230)
Suggested Product Service Codes (Advisory)
The following Product Service Codes (PSCs) are advisory suggestions aligned with this NAICS code. Note: NAICS and PSC codes map to different dimensions of procurement (industry vs. product/service). There is no official binding 1:1 crosswalk.
- PSC 5820 — Radio and Television Communication Equipment, Except Airborne
Source: DoD DPCAP PSC Selection Tool (Ingested: 2026-06-29)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is NAICS code 512230 valid in 2022? ▾
Yes, 512230 is a valid 6-digit 2022 NAICS national industry code representing 'Music Publishers' under Sector 51 in the official classification index.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS code 512230? ▾
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has established a small business size standard of 900 employees for NAICS code 512230 (Music Publishers), calculated based on employees.
What is the legacy SIC equivalent for NAICS 512230? ▾
According to official Census Bureau concordance tables, NAICS code 512230 (Music Publishers) maps to legacy 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes: 2731 - Books: Publishing, or Publishing and Printing, 2741 - Miscellaneous Publishing, 8999 - Services, NEC.
Related Pages & Tools
Further regulatory reference links for NAICS code 512230:
- Sector 51 Directory Hub — List of related industries in the Information sector.
- SIC ↔ NAICS Crosswalk Tool — Look up mappings between legacy SIC codes and modern classifications.
- NAICS 512230 to SIC Crosswalk — Bidirectional mapping to legacy SIC codes (Music Publishers).
- SBA Size Standards Guide — Complete rules and averaging periods for small business classifications.
- Calculating Annual Receipts Guide — Detailed worked example of revenue calculation rules.
- IRS Principal Business Activity Guide — How NAICS codes map to corporate and entity tax filings.