The State of Classical Music 2026

By Brad Cresswell

In the spirit of The State of the Union address on February 24, I wanted to take the temperature of our classical listeners with The State of Classical Music (in the U.S., that is).

Classical music – from Bach and Mozart to living composers and American orchestral innovation – remains a vibrant but vulnerable part of America’s cultural landscape. Its presence spans concert halls, festivals, digital streams, and, importantly, radio – a medium that has historically been one of the most accessible ways for millions to encounter and enjoy the genre. Today, however, the classical radio ecosystem is both cherished and threatened, shaped by shifting audiences, technological change, and political and economic pressures.

Unlike hit-driven commercial formats, classical music on U.S. radio is overwhelmingly driven by the public airwaves. Estimates suggest that around 96% of all classical music broadcast on U.S. radio appears on public radio stations like WGTE. This means over-the-air classical listening depends heavily on nonprofit and listener-supported infrastructure rather than commercial advertising.

Listeners continue to engage, though. Surveys suggest that the share of U.S. consumers tuning in to classical radio has grown modestly in recent years, from the low-20% range to around 25% of respondents saying they enjoy classical radio.

Classical radio audiences tend to skew older – a reflection of broader trends in classical music patronage where long-time listeners remain the most loyal. At the same time, younger listeners are increasingly discovering classical music through new pathways, including digital platforms (such as our Classical Conversations podcasts), curated playlists compiled by local hosts, and live concert broadcasts such as WGTE in Concert, all of which complement what we hear on traditional radio. WGTE and other public radio stations have kept classical music in daily auditory reach for millions, often bridging geographic and economic divides.

In 2025, however, classical music radio in the United States entered a period of significant uncertainty due to sweeping federal cuts to public radio funding. These cuts resulted from the elimination of federal appropriations for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the organization that historically distributed support to NPR, PBS and around 1,500 local stations across the country. Stations (including WGTE) have reacted by doubling down on locally rooted content and looking to members to make up more of their yearly budget (and the response from members has been wonderful – thank you).

So, to summarize, classical music in the U.S. remains deeply woven into the nation’s cultural fabric, with radio serving as both a historic home and an evolving frontier for the art form. Yet the current moment is one of transition: public funding cuts, changing listener habits, and a rapidly shifting media environment challenge the traditional model of classical broadcasting.

Still, the passion of listeners, the adaptability of stations, and the enduring power of the music itself suggest that classical radio – even if transformed – will continue to play a vital role in American musical life for years to come.

The State of Classical Music in the U.S. is… up to you.