Community Media Association
The Community Media Association is the UK representative body for the community broadcasting sector, founded in 1983 and funded through membership fees. It serves not-for-profit community radio stations and media practitioners by providing advocacy, networking, best-practice advice, an annual festival, and streaming solutions via Canstream.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersSheffield, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Community Media Association does
The Community Media Association (CMA) is a UK-wide not-for-profit limited by guarantee company, founded in 1983 and registered in England & Wales, that serves as the representative body for the community broadcasting sector. Its mission is to promote access to media for all and to safeguard the future of not-for-profit media, enabling cultural and creative expression, community development, and entertainment through community radio and media. The organisation successfully lobbied for the creation of community radio licensing in the UK and continues to represent the best interests of not-for-profit broadcasters in a changing regulatory and technical landscape.
CMA operates as a membership-led organisation with 1-10 employees, funded through membership fees paid by participants engaged with not-for-profit media. Its core offerings include a membership program providing access to a network of expertise, best practice, and advice; the annual Community Media Festival (held in 2025 at BBC Media City UK Salford to celebrate 20 years of community radio); an interactive online map of member radio stations across the UK; and a partnership with Canstream to deliver specialised streaming solutions to community media organisations. The CMA is headquartered at 311 Wimbledon Park Road, London, and engages members through its website, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and email newsletter channels.
Community Media Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Community Media Association
- Legal name
- Community Media Association
- Website
- https://commedia.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Community Media Association is the UK representative body for the community broadcasting sector, founded in 1983 and funded through membership fees. It serves not-for-profit community radio stations and media practitioners by providing advocacy, networking, best-practice advice, an annual festival, and streaming solutions via Canstream.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Community Media Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Broadcasting Trade Association
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)
Keywords
Where Community Media Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sheffield
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Community Media Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Membership: As a not-for-profit limited by guarantee company registered in England & Wales, the CMA is funded through membership fees. The organisation offers membership to participants engaged with not-for-profit media, providing access to a network of expertise, best practice and advice.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Community Media Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Community Media Association (CMA) is a not-for-profit limited by guarantee company that serves as the UK representative body for the community broadcasting sector. It operates a membership programme providing access to a UK-wide network of expertise, best practice and advice for participants engaged with not-for-profit media. The CMA also organises the annual Community Media Festival and maintains an interactive online map of its member community radio stations.
Product overview
The Community Media Association (CMA) is a membership-led organization that functions as the UK representative body for community broadcasting, rather than a product company. The CMA offers membership services providing access to expertise and best practice networks, organizes the annual Community Media Festival, and maintains an interactive map of member radio stations. The CMA also partners with Canstream to provide specialized streaming solutions for community media organizations. These offerings are designed to enable people to establish media for cultural and creative expression, community development, and entertainment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Community Media Festival: Annual festival celebrating community media and radio, held at BBC Media City UK in Salford.
Products and services
- CMA Membership A members-led membership programme for participants engaged with not-for-profit media, providing access to a UK-wide network of expertise, best practice and advice, and supporting the work of community broadcasters.
- Canstream Streaming Solutions High-quality specialised streaming solutions provided through a partner service (canstream.co.uk) for community media organisations, accessed via the CMA website.
Companies that use Community Media Association
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Community Media Association technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Community Media Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Community Media Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Co-operative College: UK-based organisation promoting co-operative values and providing education, research, and advocacy for the co-operative movement. Comparable as a UK membership-led nonprofit representative body with an advocacy and educational remit, though serving a different sector.
- Radio Reverb: Radio Reverb is a Brighton-based community and student radio station operating on a not-for-profit basis. Representative of the type of CMA member organisation — useful as an example of CMA's grassroots member base rather than a direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC): AMARC is the global umbrella for community radio, coordinating international advocacy and capacity building. Overlaps with CMA's sector-shaping role but at international rather than national scope.
- The Radio Centre: The Radio Centre is the UK trade body for commercial radio, representing commercial stations to government, regulators, and advertisers. Operates in the same UK radio sector and performs analogous advocacy functions to CMA but for the commercial rather than not-for-profit segment.
- BBC Local Radio: BBC Local Radio is the UK's main public-service local radio network, hosted at BBC Media City UK Salford where CMA's 2025 festival was held. While not a peer in structure, it is a major ecosystem participant and potential partner for CMA member stations.
Direct peers
- Radio Regen: Radio Regen supports the establishment and development of community radio stations in the North of England, providing training and sector support. Comparable to CMA in mission and focus on community radio capacity building, with a more regional UK footprint.
- National Federation of Community Broadcasters: NFCB is the US national membership organization for community radio stations, offering training, advocacy, and resources to noncommercial broadcasters. Directly comparable to CMA in mission, member model, and services, despite the US regulatory context.
- Community Broadcasting Association of Australia: CBAA is the Australian national peak body for community broadcasters, providing advocacy, training, and member services to not-for-profit radio stations. It is the closest international analogue to CMA, differing only by geography.
Regional players
- Community Media Network Ireland: Community Media Network is the representative body for community television and radio in Ireland. Closely comparable to CMA in role and structure, though operating in a different (though nearby) jurisdiction.
- Voice of the Listener & Viewer: VLV is a UK independent audience advocacy organisation for broadcasting and related services. Shares CMA's UK audience-focused, public-interest orientation toward broadcasting, though its focus is listener advocacy rather than community station support.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Community Media Association social profiles
Digital presenceCommunity Media Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Community Media Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Community Media Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Community Media Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Community Media Association
What does Community Media Association do?
The Community Media Association (CMA) is a not-for-profit limited by guarantee company that serves as the UK representative body for the community broadcasting sector. It operates a membership programme providing access to a UK-wide network of expertise, best practice and advice for participants engaged with not-for-profit media. The CMA also organises the annual Community Media Festival and maintains an interactive online map of its member community radio stations.
Is Community Media Association a public or private company?
Community Media Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Community Media Association founded?
Community Media Association was founded in 1983. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Community Media Association based?
Community Media Association is headquartered in Sheffield, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Community Media Association make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership.
Who are Community Media Association's main competitors?
Others on record are Co-operative College and Radio Reverb. Broad incumbents are World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), The Radio Centre and BBC Local Radio. Direct peers are Radio Regen, National Federation of Community Broadcasters and Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. Regional players are Community Media Network Ireland and Voice of the Listener & Viewer.
Does Community Media Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Community Media Association.
What industry is Community Media Association in?
Community Media Association's product category is Community Broadcasting Trade Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHACAA, Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies). Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.