American Public Media (APM) to Lead a Focused Future for “Classical 24,” the 24/7 Classical Music Service Produced by APM and Distributed by PRX
PRX transfers distribution rights to APM after more than 25 years of successful public media partnership
ST. PAUL, Minn. March 29, 2022 – American Public Media (APM) and PRX today announced that the nationally-syndicated public media classical music service “Classical 24” (“C24”) – distributed by PRX and produced by APM – will transition to being operated, broadcast, and solely distributed by APM. As PRX transfers distribution rights to APM after more than 25 years of successful partnership, this shift will go into effect beginning July 1, 2022.
Brought to listeners by APM and PRX (then Public Radio International, prior to merging with PRX in 2018), “C24” first launched in 1995 with a belief that music is for everybody. Today, “C24” is heard by more than 1.5 million listeners each week on more than 230 public radio stations across the United States and is available on the streaming service at YourClassical.org. The classical service will continue to grow under the APM umbrella following several decades of successful public media partnership and investment alongside PRX.
“C24” has continually strived to include performances that represent the breadth of the classical music landscape and has remained dedicated to providing live classical music programming 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Hosts and programmers carefully curate each hour of the day to engage with audiences across the country.
“Classical 24 is an important part of the portfolio of music programs created here at APM and I'm excited by the new possibilities that bringing it in-house will create,” said Liwanag Ojala, Senior Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer at APMG. “Listeners can expect the same high-quality classical music with insights provided by their favorite hosts whenever they tune in.”
“We believe that bringing production and distribution under the same roof will provide a more streamlined process for our station partners and be a seamless experience for our listeners,” said Chandra Kavati, Senior Vice President, Chief Partnerships and Revenue Officer at APMG. “APM is the nation’s largest distributor and producer of classical music, and we now have the opportunity to bring Classical 24 to a wider audience.”
“We’re proud of the great success of C24,” said Kerri Hoffman, CEO of PRX. “We believe public radio stations will be well-served by this transition to integration across APM’s portfolio, thanks to APM’s leadership in classical music programming.”
“Classical 24 displays an important role in the public media system as a service that brings listeners not only consistent entertainment through music, but also companionship, comfort, and insight,” said Sean Nesbitt, Senior Director of Industry Partnerships at PRX. “Thank you to APM and to C24's many team members and collaborators, as we're proud to have been a part of the production's journey for more than two decades. We look forward to the future of classical music and public media."
APM is a premier producer and distributor of public radio programming and offers classical programs and hosts for every audience. APM produces and distributes a dynamic mix of daily and weekly programs, documentaries and exclusive specials that inform, inspire, entertain and engage. PRX is a non-profit public media company specializing in audio journalism and storytelling, serving independent producers as well as organizations by helping them connect to their most engaged, supportive audiences.
Visit the Classical 24 webpage at c24.org for program schedule.
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About YourClassical
YourClassical is a collection of curated classical music listening experiences produced by Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media. YourClassical provides audiences with the music they love through terrestrial broadcasts and multiple web-based platforms. Nationally syndicated YourClassical programs include C24, Pipedreams, SymphonyCast, Composers Datebook and Performance Today, and are in addition to the Radio, Lullaby, Relax, Peaceful Piano, and Holiday audio streams that can be found at YourClassical.org. YourClassical Kid’s Initiatives strive to inspire the next generation of music fans and artists through in-school learning experiences, educational content, and resources for teachers and parents. Each week, nearly 2.75 million people engage with YourClassical. Learn more and listen at yourclassical.org.
About American Public Media
American Public Media® (APM) is the national programming and distribution division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches over 17 million listeners with nearly 1,000 public radio stations and over 400 commercial stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM Studios, a division of APM, offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.
About PRX | PRI
PRX is a non-profit public media company specializing in audio journalism and storytelling. PRX serves independent producers and organizations by helping them connect to their most engaged, supportive audiences. One of the world’s leading podcast publishers, PRX works in partnership with TED, PBS, the Smithsonian, Futuro Media, GBH, Religion of Sports, and more. PRX is also home to Radiotopia, known as one of the most creative and successful podcast networks. In addition, PRX distributes trusted and treasured public radio programming to hundreds of stations nationwide, including “The World,” “The Moth Radio Hour,” “This American Life,” “Snap Judgment,” “Reveal,” “The Takeaway,” and “Latino USA.” PRX programs have been recognized by the Peabody Awards, duPont-Columbia Awards, the IDA Documentary Awards, and the Pulitzer Prizes.