This year, more people than ever received important news, arts and cultural programming from Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). MPR reached a milestone of 110,825 members. MPR News continued to provide the entire state with the best regional radio news available. The Associated Press acknowledged MPR’s quality news coverage with 11 awards. 24,000 new “citizen experts” joined MPR News’ Public Insight Network. This past year also saw the launch of MPR NewsQ—a new online digital resource for Minnesota news, arts and culture. The Current’s music service continued to engage a younger and vital base of listeners. It also brought in major successes with live events, including the sold-out “Rock the Garden” concert, the “Rock the Cradle” effort to introduce young people to musical instruments and musical performance, and the innovative issues-discussion event Policy and a Pint. Classical MPR brought Minnesotans exhilarating live concert broadcasts, such as the famed BBC Proms. Classical MPR also broadcast performances from emerging artists, such as the International e-Piano Junior Competition and the choral group Chanticleer. This past spring, Classical MPR sponsored a statewide classical instrument drive, Play It Forward, a effort that caused more than 700 instruments to be donated to 300 Minnesota schools. Operating as American Public Media or APM, MPR also supported its national program portfolio—A Prairie Home Companion, Speaking of Faith, Marketplace and The Splendid Table—reaching 16 million listeners across the country.

MPR is working this year to maximize our service to Minnesota by deepening our relationships in areas we already serve and finding opportunities to serve new regions. We will increase the relevance and importance of MPR News, strengthen the Classical MPR service through effective use of outreach, events, live broadcasts and creative programming, and increase the strength of The Current as an important MPR audience service. MPR will strengthen the impact, reach and performance of our national program portfolio—such as A Prairie Home Companion, Speaking of Faith, Marketplace and The Splendid Table—while also ensuring that our production and distribution activities remain financially sustainable. MPR will continue to grow and engage our audiences on digital platforms and increase our online revenues. And we will build our corporate strength by increasing our assets and revenues, and assist in strengthening the national public media system. We will continue our focus on the value of the people in our organization. And, we will stay true to our vision and goals.

Our Minnesota Public Radio regional service is intended to serve news, information and cultural needs of the residents of Minnesota and its border communities through radio and other electronic media. The total population in the coverage area of our stations is 5.5 million. In fact, we reach about 900 thousand listeners each week. Our American Public Media national service is intended to serve news, information and cultural needs of the residents of the United States (and the world) through radio and other electronic media. We do this principally by distributing radio programs to affiliated public radio stations throughout the nation, but also on the internet. Approximately 16 million people hear our national programs each week.

For our Minnesota Public Radio regional service, Minnesota and surrounding communities. For our American Public Media national service, the United States and beyond.