This report was created in TAPSCAN using the following Radio information: LOUISVILLE; JUN25 (APR-JUN); Metro; M-Su 5A-5A ; P 12+; Station Combos Used: *LPM = WFPK-FM,WFPL-FM,WUOL-FM; See Detailed Sourcing Page for Complete Details. Copyright © 2025 The Nielsen Company. All rights reserved.

89.3 WFPL News Louisville is your trusted and reliable source for civic news that affects you, your neighborhood, your city and your state. WFPL is an independent, nonpartisan news outlet that provides you with the essential news and resources you need to understand and make decisions about our community and our world. We do fact-based reporting that is free from political and corporate influence. We produce and distribute daily journalism online and through broadcast and digital audio. We are the NPR affiliate serving Greater Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Louisville Public Media is also the lead station for Kentucky Public Radio serving a statewide audience, as well as for the new Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, a regional collaboration in partnership with NPR, composed of seven stations in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.

90.5 WUOL Classical Louisville brings the beauty and relaxation of classical music to your homes, offices, cars and anywhere you are. With 24/7 classical music and fine arts features, interviews and event listings, we offer a unique local connection. We champion area artists and cultural institutions, and we offer an escape from our raucous world with music that feeds the soul and expertise that illuminates the art. We work to reverse practices that excluded and marginalized music and artists of color. And we offer free, hands-on music education to tens of thousands of young people in local schools and community centers each year.

The friendly and knowledgeable voices at 91.9 WFPK Music Louisville highlight our local arts and music scene — on the radio, at WFPK Waterfront Wednesday® and at the many concerts we present across the community. The 24-hour listener-supported, noncommercial radio station is an award-winning hub for independent, adult alternative music and American gems like jazz and bluegrass. We introduce you to significant new music, connect you to Louisville’s best and play your long-time favorites for an eclectic mix that can’t be heard anywhere else. We also offer special community programming like Mental Health Days and 502unes.

The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom that produces investigative journalism that impacts you, your neighborhood and your Commonwealth. Our mission is to protect society’s most vulnerable citizens, expose wrongdoing in the public and private sectors, increase transparency in government and hold leaders accountable. We dig for the truth without fear or favor, cut through red tape and spark public conversation. KyCIR is a Peabody Award-winning newsroom that produces investigations for the web, radio, podcasts and more. We partner with local, regional and national newsrooms to expand the impact of our work.

In addition to our local voter guide, in 2024 LPM worked with our partners from Kentucky Public Radio (KPR) to produce a statewide digital voter guide, where Kentuckians enter their address and receive a list of candidates who would appear on their ballot based on their voting district. To further the reach of our voter guide and to encourage civic participation, we also distributed 10,000 postcards to voters in Eastern Kentucky, where we’ve done extensive reporting, directing them to our online guide. KPR also launched new digital tools to make it even easier to find background information about state lawmakers and created the 2025 Vote Tracker to help you learn how they voted on core issues affecting education, economy, environment, health and more.

NPR and Member stations in Appalachia and the Mid-South have launched a collaboration to strengthen local news coverage and bring more stories from the region to the rest of the country. The new Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom is the sixth regional collaboration in partnership with NPR and is composed of seven stations in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. Support from the Schmidt Family Foundation enabled the newsroom to create four shared services positions and helped fund existing positions at each partner station. Collaboration and shared services result in increased consistency and excellence in reporting and audience reach across this largely rural part of the country, an efficient and streamlined business strategy that increases each station’s ability to report in-depth and sound-rich stories on topics like economic opportunity, public health and climate change.

We host a variety of community conversations to ensure LPM News is reporting on what matters most to our community. Conversations included a “Morning Debrief with KyCIR and the Courier Journal” to share plans for reporting on the state’s largest school district and what storylines to watch as the school year unfolded. We held multiple listening sessions called “Small Groups, Big Conversations” to learn what community members felt were the most pressing issues, and our Southern Indiana reporter moderated “Civically Indiana,” a community conversation focused on Indiana’s 2025 legislative session, exploring how the legislative process really works — or doesn’t. Conversations reinforced the need and desire for accountability and solutions-focused journalism, especially on topics like state and local government, housing, and education.

Since our first broadcast on 89.3 WFPL on February 20, 1950, we’ve grown — adding a second and third radio station, launching a website, establishing an investigative center, expanding our local newsroom, supporting music education, producing podcasts, organizing cherished concert series, and much more. In 2025, LPM celebrates three-quarters of a century of community-oriented and community-supported media for the public good. Our year-long celebration launched on World Radio Day when we hosted our “Making Waves Luncheon” featuring NPR’s A Martinez.  Through 75 and Change we’re sharing the stories of people changing our community for the better, like Laneisha Beasley from Louisville and Rebecca Putman from Charlestown, IN. 

On Track with LPM launched on February 10, 2025, as a new, locally focused talk show hosted by Ayisha Jaffer. The 30-minute program airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 6 p.m. on 89.3 WFPL and is available on-demand as a podcast. The show features in-depth interviews with public officials, community leaders, and everyday residents. It explores topics that matter most to people in Louisville and Southern Indiana — everything from civic engagement and local news to arts, health, the environment, and business. On Track amplifies and deepens the conversation with community members from diverse sectors and backgrounds and challenges the traditional sound of public media. Topics have ranged from “Modern Prom Culture,” “The state of professional theatre in Louisville” to “News fatigue and mental health”.

91.9 WFPK’s “Songs in the Key of Pride” offered more than a celebratory playlist for Pride Month—it was a meaningful platform for LGBTQ+ voices in Louisville. All June long, the station featured artists from Elton John and Tracy Chapman to Rufus Wainwright and Chappell Roan, turning Pride Month into a daily on-air affirmation of identity and inclusion. This programming did more than entertain—it fostered belonging and visibility. By spotlighting music created at the margins, WFPK bridged gaps and reminded listeners that queer joy is part of this city’s culture.

LPM and Waterfront Park launched the 23rd season of WFPK Waterfront Wednesday, Louisville’s favorite outdoor concert series. The season featured The Verve Pipe, Momma, Cam Clark & His Orchestra, Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia Shoes, Southern Avenue, Relaay, Anderson East, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Candi Jenkins, Ben Sollee and Friends, Marzz and Sydney Sleadd and the Swarm, Sixpence None the Richer, Kashus Culpepper and Roadie, Joy Oladokun, Uwade and Maggie Halfman. Waterfront Kidsday, our dedicated area for kids and families to do hands-on activities, continued this year with the support of our sponsors and our community partner Louisville Youth Group. The event series hosted an estimated 65,000 music fans this season, gathering to hear local and international music talent and connect with their neighbors and local businesses. The event is made possible by our members and the generous support of presenting sponsors The Brook Hospitals, Cornbread Hemp, The Jack Harlow Foundation and The University of Louisville.

With new programming like “On Track,” LPM is working to not only tell stories about our community but sound more like it too. Additionally, LPM has relaunched two beloved engagement programs that are helping us achieve this goal. “Curious Louisville” is a listener-powered podcast that answers questions from listeners about Louisville and Southern Indiana like “Who is the voice at crosswalks?” or “What’s behind that mysterious door on Lexington Road?” The question asker works with a reporter to determine the answer, and shares it on-air and on the podcast. We also relaunched “Kentuckiana Sounds,” a podcast that encourages sound submissions from everyday life, whether it’s city life, nature, or unique moments. On each episode, we listen to a field recording and hear from the contributor who made it. “Kentuckiana Sounds” gives voice to the environment and neighborhoods we walk through, preserved by the people who live here. Each of these projects brings more of our local culture to the airwaves and showcases what makes us, us.

LPM Reporter Giselle Rhoden introduced us to 82‑year‑old Joan “Nana” Carter, who’s spent 17 years doing laundry at Home of the Innocents—turning a mundane task into a powerful expression of connection and service. After reading the story, U.S. Representative Morgan McGarvey presented Nana Carter with a Citizens Award, and LPM heard desire from several residents to see more stories about unsung heroes like Carter. This story beautifully highlights how local journalism can reveal everyday acts of love and care that often go unnoticed, celebrating community and bringing people together along the way.

When LPM’s Arts & Culture reporter shared the story of Central High’s Marching Yellow Jackets, they didn’t just cover a halftime show—they spotlighted a source of pride and history in Louisville’s Black community. The story gave voice to students gaining confidence, discipline, and connection through music, and to a beloved band director who’s shaped lives for nearly two decades.

This story reminds us what’s possible when young people have support and opportunities and what we stand to lose if those programs disappear. It helps neighbors see the value in what’s happening just down the street and sparks broader conversations about culture, education, and community investment.

Without this coverage, stories like these go unnoticed. Instead, they’re elevated and shared, connecting us to one another and to what makes Louisville unique.

In 2023, LPM’s Arts & Culture reporter Breya Jones was awarded the prestigious Ida B. Wells Fellowship, an honor that brought them funding and mentorship to pursue a year-long investigative journalism piece.

Through this fellowship, Breya dove into two powerful stories:

1. Kentucky’s only independent arts school —  highlighting conflicting views on the past and future success of the Kentucky College of Art and Design.
2. Accreditation earned after independence — detailing KyCAD’s pursuit of accreditation and sharing what the accreditation means for current students at the school.

Breya’s investment in this fellowship gave readers and listeners insight into how thoughtful reporting can elevate and evaluate local arts education, champion underrepresented voices, and spark support for creative learning across Kentucky.

Everyday artistry can become powerful community storytelling. 

LPM shared the story of local fiber artist “Sunshine Joe” Mallard who had his “Obama Tie Quilt” accepted into the Obama Presidential Center’s permanent collection. After over 5 years of painstaking, hand‑stitching—six hours a day, six days a week—the quilt chronicles President Obama’s first term. Mallard’s journey, inspired by his great‑great‑grandmother, shows how quilting can preserve personal, cultural, and political history—and reminds us how local artisans can reach national recognition.

This year, we also featured Eugene Poole Jr.’s display of 31 quilts depicting Black Kentucky Derby jockeys at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, where the display restores their place in Derby and Black history.

By teaming up with WUOL host Maiya Moon’s Black Queer Power Hour, 91.9  WFPK brought Louisville an inclusive cultural experience on Juneteenth. Soulsonic Resistance transformed local venue, The Monarch, into a vibrant space where Black artists—like Mdnght.hr, Kiana Del, and others—shared music rooted in jazz, soul, spoken word, dub, house, and drum & bass. The event wove together live improvisation and electronic textures to uplift Black queer survival, identity, resistance, and liberation.

LPM’s 2025 Ramadan map and Fish Fry guide offered more than just worship and food recommendations—they were a celebration of community, culture, and connection. The Ramadan map highlighted local mosques and restaurants offering iftar meals, helping Muslim residents and neighbors come together during the holy month. Meanwhile, the beloved Fish Fry guide returned as a go-to resource for those observing Lent or simply looking to enjoy a cherished Louisville tradition. These guides showcased the diversity of our city’s faith and food cultures, inviting everyone—regardless of background—to explore, learn, and participate. Additionally, “On Track” hosted a week of shows devoted to faith & food. By sharing these stories and spaces, LPM helped strengthen community ties and encouraged cross-cultural understanding in an accessible, delicious way.

“Race Unwrapped” continued in its latest season examining how race shapes democracy—from voter suppression to civic engagement. The season took on a whole new meaning when Vice President Kamala Harris suddenly became the Democratic nominee for President. Host Michelle Tyrene Johnson also produced a special episode, “Juneteenth Special: Black Women and Political Power,” sharing her conversation with A’Shanti Gholar, president of Emerge. Together they explored the resilience, community-building, and strategic organizing that Black women bring to political leadership and why their influence matters now more than ever. It was a timely dialogue on power and possibility in the current political landscape.

In October, more than a dozen states sued TikTok, alleging it harms kids and is designed to addict them. While examining heavily redacted materials from a lawsuit filed by the Kentucky AG, Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman copied-and-pasted excerpts of what turned out to be faulty redactions, bringing to light 30 pages of TikTok’s own research that had been kept secret from the public. The documents exposed company studies showing that just 260 videos could create habitual use in under an hour—and that executives were well aware of it. One executive bluntly admitted the platform deprived teens of “sleep and eating.” And while TikTok touted safety tools like screen‑time limits, internal documents showed they reduced teens’ use by only around a minute and were designed more to boost “public trust” than actually protect kids. Goodman’s reporting was co-published with NPR and referenced internationally, showing the power of accountability journalism: informing parents and prompting public scrutiny of big tech.

LPM News closely watched the Department of Justice’s move to dismiss a proposed federal consent decree tied to police reform in Louisville. Although city leaders had formally agreed to court‑enforced oversight following the 2020 death of Breonna Taylor, the Trump administration argued such mandates were too costly and undermined local control. LPM’s reporting captures what its dismissal means for the community. Community reactions—from activists and from Taylor’s family—underscore both outrage and concern amid fears of stalled reform. LPM continues to cover how the city is responding: unveiling a local Community Commitment reform plan with an independent monitor and a new Community Safety Commission to maintain transparency without federal supervision. Our coverage gives Louisville residents the facts—and the power—to understand these government decisions to influence reform and police accountability in our city.

LPM News has closely followed the long-overdue relocation and planned demolition of Dosker Manor, Louisville’s aging public housing complex plagued by power outages, pest infestations, and elevator breakdowns. LPM’s coverage revealed issues with Louisville Metro Housing Authority’s replacement housing having fewer units than the current complex, as well as residents with unpaid back rent struggling to receive relocation assistance. LPM amplified resident voices and shared their living conditions and hopes for better housing opportunities. By tracking policy, funding challenges, and LMHA’s strategic plan, LPM News empowered the community to understand housing decisions, demand transparency, and honor tenants’ rights.

Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman has regularly reported on Louisville police enforcing the state’s new Safer Kentucky Act, which bans street camping. One harrowing incident stood out: a visibly pregnant homeless woman cited for illegal camping while in labor. Despite her pleas, the officer issued a citation and only dropped charges months later after public outcry and a constitutional challenge was filed. Goodman’s reporting cited body‑cam footage and legal filings to show how the law’s vague definitions and enforcement disproportionately impact vulnerable residents, reframing this from a legal dispute into a deeper conversation about dignity, compassion, and whether criminalizing homelessness leads to justice or further harm.

Kentucky Public Radio is tracking the launch of medical marijuana in our state, which began Jan. 1, 2025 and at which point qualified patients could legally access medical cannabis. The path to that moment involved a state‐run lottery for limited cultivation, processing, and dispensary licenses, intentionally capped to avoid oversupply and litigation and ensure fair regional access. That cap resulted in 48 dispensaries across 11 areas, including two in the Louisville area. KPR reporter Joe Sonka exposed the dominance of out‑of‑state companies—including dozens linked to one operator submitting hundreds of applications—raising concerns among Kentucky hemp farmers. Importantly, KPR’s spring 2025 investigation spotlighted a state audit probing the fairness and transparency of that lottery process. Without our coverage, there would not be public awareness of these concerns with the lottery process, nor would there have been the public outcry and constitutional challenge that resulted.

Kentucky Public Radio’s Joe Sonka earned major recognition for a deep investigative series exposing how the legislative, executive, and judicial branches consistently lack transparency. Key revelations included how legislators conceal the true cost of bills through nondisclosure clauses, and how Governor Beshear has not fulfilled promises surrounding state aircraft use. Sonka revealed that a majority of Kentucky Supreme Court justices failed to file their mandatory financial disclosures on time, and many still don’t identify which companies they own stock in, despite laws intended to guard against conflicts of interest. This reporting lifted the curtain on practices that keep citizens in the dark, highlighted how public officials dodge accountability, and pushed for meaningful reform. Sonka’s work reminds us that transparency isn’t just a principle—it’s essential for public trust and a functioning democracy.

Southern Indiana reporter Aprile Rickert covered the sentencing of former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, who pleaded guilty to 27 felonies including theft, tax evasion, and money laundering related to his leadership of New Chapel EMS and his time as sheriff. In an October 2024 hearing, Judge Medlock sentenced Noel to 15 years in prison, plus probation, and ordered nearly $3 million in restitution to victims and government entities. Rickert shared stories from victims, including community members who suffered from delayed ambulance response times and other consequences of Noel’s corruption. She also followed up on the convictions of Noel’s daughter, wife and Clark County officials who pleaded guilty to theft and conflict of interest. This coverage portrays the community value of accountability journalism—for its power in revealing government misuse, lifting up the stories of those impacted by the corruption, and providing information for the public to be able to demand reform.

LPM News tracked the transformation of the former Jeffboat shipyard in Jeffersonville, which shut down in 2018 after nearly two centuries in business. Aprile Rickert’s reporting detailed how the Southern Indiana Regional Development Authority awarded $6.5 million in state READI funds in December 2024 to help kickstart redevelopment at the site. Through coverage of community meetings, planning frameworks, and funding updates, Rickert’s work connected resident concerns to economic development needs and aspirtions—ensuring transparency, public involvement, and accountability as growth continues along Indiana’s riverfront.

Over the past few years, LPM has invested in increasing our coverage of our broader community, encompassing our neighbors and neighborhoods across the Ohio River. In addition to our reporting, we offer engagement opportunities like “Civically Indiana,” a community discussion about the Indiana legislative session where we partnered with Indiana Public Broadcasting. We’ve long heard from our audience a desire for an independent, non-partisan voter guide similar to the local and statewide guides we produce for Kentucky elections, but had not previously had the capacity to accomplish this. For the 2024 general election, LPM News published the SoIN Voter Guide. Aprile Rickert reached out to 50 candidates and received responses from nearly all of them, producing a very important work of public service journalism that reached over 23,000 readers on our website and in emails sent directly to Indiana constituents.

LPM’s Health & Environment Reporter Morgan Watkins completed her Solutions Journalism HEAL Fellowship, which highlighted local innovations making mental health care more accessible to BIPOC youth. Her stories featured a therapy model developed in Louisville that treats racial trauma with culturally relevant tools. She also covered Play Cousins Collective’s “Holding Space” program, which offers free therapy and enrichment to Black children and families, rooted in community trust and identity affirmation. The project highlighted creative partnerships offering therapy in everyday places, like barbershops and libraries—to reduce stigma and barriers such as cost or location. Watkins’s reporting shows how community-based solutions, backed by collaboration and cultural awareness, can make therapy more accessible and impactful. Her work reminds readers that mental health isn’t just a clinical issue—it’s about equity, belonging, and healing together. We also partnered with Seven County Services on their annual Winners for Wellness BIPOC Mental Health festival in July and helped them achieve record attendance.

LPM reporter Roberto Roldan brought national attention to the Arthur Street Hotel, a former motel transformed into a housing-first transitional shelter for people experiencing chronic homelessness. In December 2024, Roberto partnered with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Jon Cherry on a series documenting resident stories, like Bonnie Baker who, after years on the street, found stability at the hotel while navigating addiction and health care on her terms, leading to eventual permanent housing. Roldan’s reporting explains how the model offers private rooms, non‑mandatory mental health and substance‑use support and case management. This kind of journalism uplifts a new, and somewhat controversial housing model through the stories of those who are housed there, identifying innovative solutions and why they’re necessary, and highlighting why community-based housing models matter.

LPM’s data reporter Justin Hicks wrote a three-part series following Kentucky’s ambitious push to build climate-resilient “high ground” housing on former coal mine sites in Eastern Kentucky—helping families displaced by the devastating 2022 floods. His coverage sheds light on how disaster recovery and housing policy affect people living in hard-hit rural communities. Kentucky’s plan is unique because it pairs various federal aid programs with state-managed housing development, but it’s not without its challenges. The reporting helped local residents understand, weigh in, seek alternatives, and hold decision‑makers accountable as they rebuild.

If one thing is for certain, it’s that severe weather has been a major story in Kentucky in recent years. Over the last year, LPM delivered crucial coverage on severe weather across Kentucky—keeping residents informed before, during, and after dangerous events. In July 2024, LPM explained why a tornado touched down in west Louisville’s Parkland neighborhood with no warning issued, illuminating how fast-developing “spin‑up” tornadoes evade radar detection and the limitations of warning systems. Justin Hicks worked with reporters at WUOT in Knoxville,TN, a partner station through the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, to cover the damage and community recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene. LPM reporters extensively covered the historic Louisville flooding in April when the Ohio River crested at over 36 feet—its highest since 1997—submerging downtown roadways, Waterfront Park, and homes in low-lying neighborhoods. LPM’s reporting goes beyond the damage of severe weather and connects these events to climate trends and economic ramifications. LPM’s weather and post-disaster reporting also offers life‑saving information, empowers community response, and provides accountability to how local and state governments handle the recovery.

Justin Hicks has been at the forefront of reporting on the erosion of mine safety protections in Appalachia, particularly following President Trump’s budget cuts that led to the layoff of two-thirds of staff at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), halting its Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program and sidelining its mobile screening unit. Additionally, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has delayed enforcement of stricter coal dust exposure rules and proposed the closure of 35 MSHA offices, raising fears of increased miner fatalities and illnesses. Hicks’s investigative journalism brings to light the real-world, human consequences of these policy decisions, highlighting the dangers faced by miners and the communities that depend on them. His work emphasizes the importance of holding policymakers accountable and ensuring that the health and safety of workers are not overlooked or compromised.

KyCIR’s Morgan Watkins has been investigating environmental issues affecting Kentuckians. In March 2025, she reported on a controversial Kentucky bill that could allow pollution of private wells that many rural families rely on for drinking water. The bill would remove protections for smaller streams and groundwater sources, raising concerns about the safety of these water supplies. Watkins also highlighted how a West Virginia factory’s pollution could impact Louisville’s drinking water. The Chemours Co. facility has been releasing high levels of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” into the Ohio River, potentially affecting water quality for Jefferson County residents. Watkins also examined major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Kentucky, Indiana, and nearby states, identifying coal-burning power plants, oil refineries, and steel mills as significant contributors to climate change. Her reporting brings attention to environmental issues that directly impact public health and the environment, encouraging informed community discussions and policy considerations.

LPM provided comprehensive coverage of the search for Jefferson County Public School’s new superintendent, a pivotal decision for Kentucky’s largest school district. In May 2025, the Jefferson County Board of Education announced two finalists. Community forums were held to allow public engagement with the candidates, and surveys indicated a strong preference among teachers and community members. However, in a unanimous vote, the board selected Dr. H. Brian Yearwood as the new superintendent— not the teacher and community preference. This announcement was leaked on social media before being made official. LPM’s detailed reporting on this process has ensured transparency and informed the community about the significance of this leadership change, as Dr. Yearwood will be the first Black superintendent in JCPS history. Such coverage reveals the importance of local journalism in holding educational institutions accountable and fostering public involvement in decision-making. LPM News will continue to follow Dr. Yearwood’s tenure.

In 2024, Kentucky voters decisively rejected Amendment 2, the “School Choice” Initiative, which sought to amend the state constitution to allow public funds for private and charter schools. This remains a controversial topic and misinformation was rampant. LPM provided in-depth coverage of the campaign, including insights into the spending battles between political action committees and the perspectives of public school superintendents who argued that the amendment would divert essential resources from public education. The defeat of the amendment, with nearly 65% of voters opposing it, showed Kentuckians’ commitment to preserving public education funding. LPM’s reporting highlighted the role of journalism in informing and engaging the community when critical issues like this are on the ballot.

KyCIR’s Education Reporter Jess Clark has been at the forefront of reporting on JCPS’ transportation issues, which have significantly impacted students and families. In 2024, JCPS faced a severe bus driver shortage, leading to the elimination of transportation for most magnet and traditional schools, affecting approximately 16,000 students. Her investigation revealed that this decision disproportionately impacted Black, Latino, low-income, and immigrant students, who were most likely to leave their schools due to the lack of transportation. In response to community outcry, the JCPS Board of Education voted to restore transportation to six schools in March 2025, prioritizing low-income students and those attending schools with early start times. Clark’s journalism has been crucial in holding JCPS accountable, ensuring transparency, and amplifying the voices of affected families, like one mom who sued JCPS for cutting her son’s bus and was threatened with jail time for not getting him to school. 

90.5 WUOL added to Louisville’s cultural landscape through rebroadcasts of the Louisville Orchestra’s 2024-2025 season, making high-quality classical music accessible to a broader radio audience, free of charge, from the comfort of their homes. WUOL plays a crucial role in promoting cultural engagement and appreciation within the community and the rebroadcasted concerts are one example of public media democratizing access to the arts, ensuring that cultural experiences are available to all, regardless of socioeconomic status. This commitment to cultural accessibility highlights the essential role of LPM in supporting and sustaining the arts in Louisville and partnering with key cultural institutions to highlight their work.

LPM has also launched a new program in partnership with AMPED Music Academy. Youth Open Mic Night serves as a safe space for young, up-and-coming musicians, poets, storytellers, and spoken word artists to network, workshop new material, and express themselves in a safe and welcoming space. Louisville has a vast and beautiful arts community, but our next generation misses out on a lot of the crucial networking due to age restrictions and location constraints. Some of the most important steps on any musician’s journey are meeting like-minded collaborators, sharing, and forming networks. The Youth Open Mic program aspires to be that safe, collaborative and supportive space, fostering the next generation of local artists.

In March 2025, we hosted students from The Montessori Field School inside its studios for a behind‑the‑scenes tour of LPM. During the visit, kids tried their hand at making instruments, recording audio, and even writing and performing their own news segments alongside WUOL and WFPL staff. This hands-on field trip shared the magic of production—from storytelling to sound engineering—helping to ignite curiosity and imagination in young learners. LPM is committed to making the arts more approachable, inclusive, and inspiring, ensuring that creativity and curiosity are accessible to all students.

In April 2025, WUOL’s New Lens concert series featured The Innocents, a powerful performance-art piece by Allen Otte and John Lane, performed at the 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville. The piece explored the emotional and societal impact of wrongful convictions, drawing attention to lives disrupted by injustice. In the U.S., about 4–6% of convictions may be wrongful; in Kentucky, exonerations average more than a year of lost life behind bars. New Lens expands access to innovative storytelling, creating space for reflection, empathy, and civic conversation. By making culturally relevant, socially conscious performances like The Innocents available for free to the public, WUOL helps ensure that art is accessible, inclusive and impactful.

WFPK continues to be your destination for all things local music. In addition to playing local artists on air, featuring them online in our 502unes series, and at every WFPK Waterfront Wednesday, we premiered a new short run video series,  502unes Live! in late 2024. The series spotlighted Louisville musicians and bands, featuring an in-depth interview and performance recorded in the LPM studio. Highlights include episodes with emerging artists like RELAAY, a duo active since 2008, and Lacey Guthrie, who shared songs from her album Flower Eating Monster and discussed her creative journey in Louisville. The series, hosted by Otis, Jr., used video to offer fans a visual connection to artists’ stories and performance, using multimedia storytelling to elevate local talent and foster community connection.

As part of our 75th-anniversary celebration, Louisville Public Media hosted a massive Record Sale on June 28, 2025, inviting the community to dive into over 13,000 vinyl and classical recordings—including Louisville Orchestra and jazz titles—from their archives. For just $1 per record, or a $20 tote bag filled to the brim, attendees could own a piece of LPM history while supporting public radio. Held on Fourth Street’s Music Alley, the event drew over 200 music lovers of all ages hunting for treasures and swapping stories. By sharing its collection, LPM helped listeners bring more music into their homes.

In April 2025, Laura Atkinson had the unique opportunity to sit down with acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming ahead of her performing with the Louisville Orchestra. Fleming shared reflections on her long and celebrated career—from performing for presidents, royalty, and at the Super Bowl, to winning multiple Grammys and the National Medal of Arts. She also discussed her latest project, Voice of Nature: the Anthropocene, a multimedia concert collaboration with the Louisville Orchestra and National Geographic capturing the intersection of music, nature, and climate. This coverage highlights WUOL’s dedication to bringing global musical voices to Louisville listeners—making high art feel personal and accessible.

LPM’s heartfelt series “Notes from Mothers” earned a Gracie Award, —a prestigious honor from the Alliance for Women in Media. Hosted by Colleen Wheelahan and produced by Laura Atkinson, the series features deeply personal reflections and stories celebrating motherhood across cultures and communities. Winning a Gracie Award highlights how local, diverse voices—especially women’s stories—can resonate loudly and widely. In bringing these intimate narratives to the airwaves, LPM not only broadened access to thoughtful storytelling but also affirmed the power of everyday experiences as cultural expression. Programs like this strengthen community connections by making space for shared stories that are often overlooked.

“Kyle Meredith With…”— the long-running music interview series on WFPK — hit a milestone in late 2024, releasing its 1,000th episode featuring rock icons Maynard James Keenan (Tool/Puscifer) and Les Claypool (Primus). For years, the series has offered intimate, insightful conversations with legendary artists and emerging voices from U2 to newer indie acts, unlocking a world of music for Louisville listeners and beyond. Nearly 70 LPM members celebrated Kyle’s achievement when we turned the mic on him to ask HIM the questions. Laura Shine interviewed Kyle to get the scoop on what it’s like talking to interesting people about interesting things.

These charts reflect preliminary fiscal year 2025 numbers that will be approved via our independent audit summary.

At the time of this report, there were 45 full and part-time staff at LPM across all levels in the organization. This report includes all of them; it does not include contractors, who sometimes appear on-air or in other capacities for LPM.

As a 501(c)(3) community licensee, LPM is governed by a Board of Directors who provide organizational and financial leadership to our company. The LPM Board of Directors acts as stewards of a public trust and must ensure long-term financial stability, sustainable growth, and value to the public. As stewards, they are guided by the values of integrity, innovation, respect and quality. The board is self-selecting and composed of up to 24 representatives from the community at-large. 

CAB members are a diverse group of people who care about our community, come from all over the area, and believe LPM’s music, news and events can connect people and make life in our city better. LPM strives to be a community commons for ideas, culture and information sharing. Our Advisory Board members give us feedback and guidance on how to best meet that mission. Board members talk with their neighbors, attend our events and work with LPM’s board of directors and staff. Like LPM itself, the Advisory Board aims to connect our community.

Sources may be featured in stories that ran on 89.3 WFPL, KyCIR.org, in our podcast feeds, or on LPM.org. These charts reflect a sample of 169 sources representing a sample of our reporting and our ongoing efforts to continually reflect all parts of our unique community. Multiple source tracker form entries could represent just one story or segment. We’ve requested that sources select all that apply to their racial and ethnic identity and also allow them to input data not listed in the categories provided. We continue to push ourselves to be more inclusive not just in sources, but in language, story ideas, our line of inquiry to elected officials and the places we show up in the community.

WFPK follows a Triple A, or Adult Album Alternative, format. Triple A is a traditionally male, white format, but we’re doing intentional work to redefine the music mix in Louisville. The following data represents a one-week period of WFPK programming. We worked with 12 categories and assigned some of the songs to more than one category, which is why some categories do not total 100. For instance, if the group was a duo/trio and each performer played a prominent role, we assigned categories to all members. If the song was performed by a band, we focused on the lead singer because that person is most visible and representative to the audience.

Additional race/ethnicities representing less than 1%:

• South Asian
• Middle Eastern and North African

This chart captures the “spins” (one track played on air, regardless of the length of the track) and duration as a percentage of total locally-programmed tracks played during FY25. Gender diversity in this report is expressed as “Women/Female.” The role and contributions of women have been intentionally repressed or explicitly excluded from this art form, and we felt it was important to account for this. We’ve also made assumptions based on historic or contemporary information regarding gender identity. This report does not account for the various forms of gender identity, a data point that can be difficult to obtain and one that can be highly private and/or personal. For this same reason, we have not attempted to capture sexual orientation. For this survey, we focused on composers. During FY25 WUOL broadcast approximately 4,360 locally-programmed hours.

Note: Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number, so sometimes totals represented in the above charts exceed 100. We are combining race and ethnicity in one chart for this report.