NPR to Launch Digital Music Service Next Year

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 30, 2006 - 12:58pm.

Washington - National Public Radio (NPR) on Wednesday announced plans to create a major digital music service, which it says will extend the role that public radio stations hold in music discovery. The site, scheduled to launch in the first half of 2007, will pool public radio's collective resources, and offer exposure for emerging and non-mainstream artists in genres including classical, jazz, folk, opera, AAA, electronica and alternative. "We have pioneered innovations -- independently and collaboratively -- including a modular music production and acquisition program service, NPR Music online, live streaming concerts, podcasts and, most recently, digital radio multicast channels," said NPR executive vice president Ken Stern. "The digital music discovery arena is a new and barely-explored one, and a logical place for NPR and the public radio system to take a leadership role."

http://www.npr.org