With so many other ways to hear music now, how has public radio evolved its music programming?
A sizable and growing percentage of public radio’s audience comes from people streaming online. Podcasts are a growing way for audiences to listen to programs on their own schedule. Music podcasts are limited at this point due to rights issues and new media usage continues to become a larger issue with musician unions’ contracts. Public radio remains a vital source of music as it provides exclusive opportunities for listeners to hear concerts from throughout the world that will never be available on a recording. In fact, Performance Today, SymphonyCast, Pipedreams and St. Paul Sunday (all from American Public Media) feature “new” music rather prominently. Different local stations will also offer contemporary works as their resources and ethos allow. Have there been strictly radio concert series? E.g. Bass-baritone Eric Owens (shameless plug) gives a radio-only recital? Yes. For example, American Public Media’s Saint Paul Sunday provides exclusive performances and conversation, recorded
