From The Director

Dear Jonah,

I’m writing to let you know about some changes coming to our NPR News & Music stations next week. Starting Monday, January 20, you can enjoy additional live-hosted classical music and regular hourly news breaks from NPR after 8 p.m. weekdays and after 1 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. These changes come as we shift providers for our overnight classical music service from the Beethoven Network to American Public Media’s Classical 24 (C24) service.

While we’ve appreciated our relationship with the Beethoven Network and their excellent host, Peter van de Graaff, C24 offers several advantages. First, it’s a live-hosted classical service, just like WPR offers during our daytime programs. The Beethoven Network is a pre-recorded service, and we believe live-hosted classical music will offer a more personable, relevant and engaging experience for you.

In addition to providing outstanding music selections and a mix of talented hosts, C24 also offers a custom break at the top of the hour for NPR newscasts. WPR is committed to keeping you informed and connected to the world day and night. In the event of urgent breaking news, C24 can respond to the issue in advance of the next newscast in a way the Beethoven Network cannot.

As part of this change, weeknight broadcasts of “Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin” move to 8 p.m. on WPR’s All Classical Network, available on HD radios, our online stream at WPR.org and on our free mobile app. Fans of “Exploring Music” can also listen anytime day or night at the show’s website. On the NPR News & Music network, the syndicated music education program will be replaced by overnight classical music starting one hour earlier – right after “Fresh Air with Terry Gross.” On Friday nights, “Jazz Night in America” will move to 8 p.m., followed by jazz music from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

You’ll continue to enjoy the outstanding work of WPR’s own classical music hosts throughout the day. This change only affects our overnight service.

We’re excited about the new service. I hope you’ll tune in and let us know what you think. Please listen and share your thoughts with us by emailing listener@wpr.org or by calling Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444.

Sincerely,
Mike

Mike Crane
Director
Wisconsin Public Radio