Public Radio Music Day 2026

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Public Radio Music Day 2026 was a celebration of what makes public radio and noncommercial music stations so special: their ability to welcome, embrace, amplify and preserve the sounds of home.

More than 130 stations across at least 46 states marked the day with live performances, staff playlists, local artist spotlights, special interviews, panels with local leaders and musicians, and song request shows from community listeners. 

“So, why does Public Radio Music Day matter?” 

So, why does Public Radio Music Day matter? WYEP’s Rosemary Welsch perfectly answered this question: “Because public radio gives communities their voice.” 

17.6 million listeners enjoy public radio music in the U.S. each week, on-air and simultaneous streams. Public radio relies on expert local DJs and community members, not algorithms, to bring programming to Americans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“It’s an opportunity to celebrate what we’re building together,” Avanza’s Edgar Zúñiga said about the day. “I grew up in Salt Lake City, the son of Colombian immigrants. And growing up, I didn’t find too many places in local media that reflected me, my experiences, or my community. Today, I have the privilege of serving as the program director of a radio station created to serve Utah’s growing bilingual communities.”

“Our band has had unthinkable support from public radio over the years…it’s really an invaluable resource.” 

Broadcast, digital and social channels across the country lit up with audience and artist testimonials, station stories and live performances to urge support for public radio music. 

Virginia-area artists like Caroline Scruggs and Deau Eyes made videos shouting out WNRN. Nashville’s WNXP featured praise for public radio from artists who attended the Kilby Block Party in Salt Lake City, including testimonials from Modest Mouse, American Football, Automatic, and Gelli Haha. 

WUSF in Tampa shared incredible artist impact stories, including one from local pianist Daniel Bremer: “I am disabled and 80 years old. I don’t go out to jazz clubs to hear local players. I used the video you produced of me playing ‘The Nearness of You’ as an audition video. I submitted it to the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival 2025. I won a gold medal and was invited to play at the festival, which was held in Indianapolis, in May of 2025.”⁠

WJSU in Jackson hosted a special conversation with Mississippi singing legend Dorothy Moore. Central Florida’s WUCF highlighted that for pianist and composer Assel Jean-Pierre Jr., public radio offers something increasingly rare: a direct connection between artists and listeners, without the distractions.

In a Public-Radio-Music-Day first, beloved folk band Trampled by Turtles shared an exclusive song from their upcoming album, Good Dogs, with all participating stations. Listeners flocked to the comments to share their love for the band and their local stations. “I saw your post and donated to KRCB in Northern California,” one listener wrote. 

At least 20 stations aired the single, including:

And the PRMD-exclusives didn’t end there. WSHU in Connecticut debuted ‘Woven in Tears’ by composer Evan Williams, performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Commissioned in response to a local art exhibition, the work draws inspiration from artist Hannah Rose Thomas’ portrait of Nasreen Sheikh, a survivor of forced labor and forced marriage who now empowers other women. The song is “a beautiful reminder of how art and music can give voice to difficult experiences and honor human dignity,”

And Western Washington’s KNKX premiered an exclusive studio session featuring The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio and veteran saxophonist Karl Denson performing rare funk gems.

“It’s more urgent that people hear other people’s art, other people’s creation, which brings us together.”

In a special blog for Public Radio Music Day, we spoke with Washington State Representative Chris Stearns about the importance of funding public radio music. The Speaker Pro Tem also marked the day with a pledge to re-introduce the bill he advocated for this past session that would backfill some of the federal funding losses for public stations in Washington, like Classical KING, KEXP, KUOW, Dance 89.5, KSER, KBCS, KPTZ, KMIH, Space 101.1, and KNKX.

We heard from stations across the country about their deep ties to local businesses and organizations. Cincinnati’s WGUC highlighted their local partnerships with organizations like the Cincinnati Opera, May Festival, and the Vocal Arts Ensemble. WUOT in East Tennessee regularly partners with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, BIG EARS Festival, UT College of Music, and more. 

Indianapolis’ WFYI called out their deep ties with local businesses Square Cat Vinyl, Luna Music, and Indy CD & Vinyl. Public Radio 90 in the Upper Great Lakes took a moment to celebrate homegrown talent and local vital arts champions like the Hiawatha Music Co-Op and Pine Mountain Music Festival. Warrior Radio at Smithville High School in Kansas City highlighted their partnerships with organizations like Folk Alliance International and Heartland Song Network.  

KTEP in El Paso hosted a roundtable discussion with guests Marina Monsisvais, host for State of the Arts; Seth Dodson, Festival Director for El Paso Summit Festival Musica & Cultura; Mike Hernandez of YouRock! El Paso, and Paul Ward, co-founder of Apple Tree Creative Center.

Stations also underlined how they provide a sense of home for people both near and far — WUSF mapped out how their top Floridian listeners reside in Orlando, Winter Park, and Kissimmee, while their international listeners predominantly tune in from Falkenstein, Moscow, and Amsterdam.

NPR Music profiled some of their Member stations in a series on their Instagram, along with station-specific YouTube playlists. NPR CEO Katherine Maher and some NPR Music Member stations also shared a curated “Sounds Like Home” playlist. 

“Building community through live music”

We heard live, in-studio performances from local artists across the country. Nebraska Public Media hosted a full day of performances from Nebraska artists, such as the Nebraska Chamber Players and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln percussion ensemble. Kauai’s KKCR hosted an afternoon of live programming from beloved island musicians.

WMOT in Tennessee hosted a full livestream celebration, featuring artists like Jordan Tice, Jess Woodland, Chloe Kimes, and Brandy Clark. New Orleans’ WWNO held their second annual benefit concert with performances from Tank and the Bangas and Leyla McCalla. Lexington’s WUKY celebrated Public Radio Music Day with an evening concert featuring Velvet Elvis, a performance that was “over 40 years in the making.” 

KUAF in Fayetteville premiered a new live session with Cure for Paranoia. High Plains Public Radio hosted singer-songwriter Jennifer “Savage” Hurley and Danny Del Val for a live set. Classical WSMR held a special performance from singers with the Sarasota Opera, pianist Jesse Martins and cellist Nadine Trudel. 

Many stations took the opportunity to highlight past performances. West Virginia’s Mountain Stage put together a special playlist of live performances. KPCW in Utah posted past live sessions with local musicians like The Last Wild Buffalo. Also in Utah, KRCL reminded audiences that their YouTube is full of live performances from local artists like Cardinal Bloom and The Mellons. Ball State Public Media in Indiana re-posted Jerry Barker’s in-studio performance.

KRCB in Northern California brought in local musicians like Sloan Irving and Marty O’Reilly for live performances on air. And Spokane Public Radio featured live classical performances from musicians like Melody Puller, Matthew Goodrich, Archie Chen, and Rhona Gouldson-Chen, “celebrating the beauty of music and the connections it creates in our community.”

“We’re proud to reflect the sounds of our community.”

We learned what home really sounds like in Salida (KHEN), San Antonio (KRTU), New Hampshire (New Hampshire Public Radio), Minnesota (YourClassical), Northern Nevada (KNVC), Iowa (Studio One), and Appalachia (WMMT). 

The never-ending well of incredible local music programming was also on display. Hawaii Public Radio noted the role they play in preserving and sharing mele and moʻolelo through programs like Hawaiʻi Kulāiwi, HPR Hōʻike, Classical Pacific, After Hours: Ua Noa, Kanikapila Sunday and the Kanikapila Vintage podcast.⁠ WYEP highlighted their local shows that take a deeper look at the local Pittsburgh music scene, like their Pittsburgh Music Hour. 

Alabama’s Troy Public Radio called out shows like Clarinet Corner, while West Virginia Public Broadcasting shouted out programs like Classical Music with Matt Jackfert. KAWC highlighted their Village Jazz Series, a collection of jazz concerts hosted at Yuma Palms Regional Center. 

Kentucky’s WKU Public Radio called out local programs with some incredible names, such as Old Scratchy Records. Louisiana’s KRVS highlighted how they expand musical horizons while “sounding like home” with shows like Bonjour Louisiane and Punk Pirogue.

“From bluegrass and Americana to classic country, blues, old time, and folk, we bring the community together through live music every day with the WDVX Blue Plate Special, and throughout the year with WDVX Summer Nights, Tennessee Shines, and other partnered events,” wrote WDVX in East Tennessee.

Hundreds of staff at these local stations joined in on the celebration and conversation (an appointment at the salon couldn’t even stop WVTF’s Nicholas Yee from celebrating Virginia music!). Many stations had their hosts team up for special programming. 

Colorado Public Radio brought classical host Monique Brooks Roberts and indie host Jason Thomas together to gush about each other’s shows. WKMS hosts Shelby Ashley and Daniel Hurt joined forces to bring listeners a special episode of Sounds Local, highlighting Kentucky artists.

DJ Dang and Andrew Dziengel at KAXE in Northern Minnesota faced off with music sets that audiences voted on. On the Jersey Shore, Brookdale Public Radio’s TJ Bryan & Stu Coogan came together to talk about the artists, songs, and memories that take them right back to a certain time and place. 

Stations looked to their staff for their deep knowledge of local music scenes. KRTU asked their student interns what San Antonio sounds like (“listening to Richard Oppenheim as the sun sets in the Japanese Tea Gardens”). WSJU’s incredible “Home Feels Like” series asked staff members and student interns to reflect on what home feels and sounds like to them (check out their full profile for all of the wonderful reflections).

WXXI in Rochester and WGTE in Toledo also gathered perspectives from their staff on what music they think sounds like home. Atlanta’s WCLK took a chance to promote their slate of fantastic hosts. Texas’ Marfa Public Radio, Colorado’s KGNU, and Minnesota’s KAXE were just a few of the many stations that called out their mighty teams of volunteer DJs.

“Thank you for the wonderful work you do to keep our communities connected!”

The responses and expressions of gratitude came from every corner of the music ecosystem, from artists, local businesses, industry professionals, students, listeners, and elected representatives. 

On a video highlighting KUTX’s dedication to local music, Austin-area producer and DJ Henry Invisible wrote, “I absolutely love every single time I hear myself on the radio or at the airport! Thank You @kutx for the spins and the opportunity to be a part of the Austin TX airwaves!”

“Thank you for the wonderful work you do to keep our communities connected!” wrote one listener on a post from Tri States Public Radio, which serves west central Illinois, southeastern Iowa, and northeastern Missouri.

Texas Public Radio’s Tori Pool spoke about their work to integrate local music in their event programming, and listeners brought the love: “Thank u @tori_bori_allegory & @texaspublicradio for supporting, highlighting & enriching San Antonio creative community culture.”

Public Radio Music Day 2026 made one thing clear: local stations represent and preserve home for thousands of American communities. These stations create memories that transcend time and place. One listener wrote, “The North 103.3 FM is where I go to listen to my fave local and regional musicians’ songs. A few years ago when my dad was in home hospice, I was traveling to the farm to see my parents an hour away from Duluth. It’s when I heard Dead Man Winter’s song ‘Weight of the World’ and I just started to cry. Almost had to pull over. Miigwech to the band and The North 103.3 for that moment in sharing that song which is one of my all time faves.”