About Us
Public radio is America’s most wide-reaching, inclusive, equitable, and affordable path to classical music. Nearly 11 million Americans tune in to classical music on public radio each week. Thirty percent of everyone in the United States reported that in the last month they’ve listened to at least one hour of classical music either on public radio or other media. There are documented physiological and psychological benefits to listening to classical music. Health researchers have discovered that listening to classical music lowers blood pressure and reduces stress levels in as little as 30 minutes. Seattle-based Classical KING FM serves as a beacon providing a place of calm, healing, and companionship to its thousands of listeners.
Classical KING serves Seattle, Bellevue, and Greater Puget Sound region as a catalyst for the vitality of the entire regional arts community. Classical KING strives each day to make classical music and the arts easily accessible while developing new diverse audiences for classical music. The station’s seven-decade history and its unique legacy of leadership in the Seattle arts community have enabled them to achieve an exceptional level of influence. Today, Classical KING is recognized as a regional treasure and an experienced, authoritative source of high-quality classical music and arts programming. In addition, the station engages young people with classical music in school, at home, and at specially designed events.
Classical KING operated as a commercial classical station until 2011 when it became a nonprofit classical public radio station. Founded in 1947 by radio pioneer and philanthropist Dorothy Stimson Bullitt, Classical KING is among the longest-running classical radio stations in the United States. Since transitioning in 2011, KING FM has developed a stronger nonprofit operating model, with richer programming, and a greater focus on member, donor, and community partnerships. Even in this short period of time, KING FM has been very successful at building a solid philanthropic base to support its operating budget.
With over 200,000 weekly listeners, the Classical KING FM audience is as varied as their musical selections. Nearly 20 percent of their listeners are under 35 and thousands of them are under the age of 11. They have 8,300 weekly listeners who identify as disabled and over 40,000 who are people of color. More than 16,000 members are supporters of Classical KING FM, helping to pave the way for a bright future and bring the richness of classical music to diverse audiences in the rapidly growing Puget Sound Region.