Baltimore Public Media
Baltimore Public Media is a nonprofit public media organization operating WYPR 88.1 FM (NPR news) and WTMD 89.7 FM (music discovery), serving Baltimore and Maryland residents via radio, podcasts, and community events funded by listener donations, corporate sponsorships, and CPB grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Baltimore Public Media does
Baltimore Public Media Corporation is a nonprofit public media organization headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, that operates two listener-supported radio stations and a portfolio of digital podcast content. WYPR 88.1 FM delivers NPR news and information programming, while WTMD 89.7 FM serves as the region's "Total Music Discovery" outlet, supplemented by HD sub-channels (WYPR HD2 BBC, WYPR HD3 All Classical, WTMD HD2). The technology stack is built on over-the-air FM broadcasting infrastructure, digital streaming via wypr.org and wtmd.org, and on-demand podcast distribution. Programming is freely accessible without paywalls; listener reach extends across Maryland from Baltimore to Frederick and Ocean City.
The organization was formed in November 2021 when WYPR acquired WTMD from Towson University, consolidating both stations under the Your Public Radio Corporation umbrella. In January 2023, the entity rebranded to Baltimore Public Media, with a new identity developed by Baltimore agency idfive and a sonic identity composed by local artist Wendel Patrick. Craig N. Swagler was installed as President and General Manager in August 2023.
The business model is donation-based. Primary revenue comes from individual listener memberships and one-time gifts (monthly tiers of $10–$100, one-time tiers of $75–$1,200, with combined-station support at $50/month or $365/year), supplemented by corporate sponsorships and a federal Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) grant representing approximately 6% of the annual operating budget. The "Fortifying The Future" campaign is explicitly positioned to offset potential federal funding exposure. Distribution channels are non-commercial by design, and the organization is governed as a community-supported nonprofit with no parent company or equity backers.
Baltimore Public Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Baltimore Public Media
- Legal name
- Baltimore Public Media Corporation
- Website
- https://baltimorepublicmedia.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Baltimore Public Media is a nonprofit public media organization operating WYPR 88.1 FM (NPR news) and WTMD 89.7 FM (music discovery), serving Baltimore and Maryland residents via radio, podcasts, and community events funded by listener donations, corporate sponsorships, and CPB grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Baltimore Public Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB), Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style) (MPABABAB), Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)
Keywords
Where Baltimore Public Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Baltimore Public Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Listener Donations/Membership: Primary revenue source from individual listener donations and sustaining memberships. Listeners become members through monthly or one-time gifts, with options ranging from $10-$100 monthly and $75-$1,200 one-time contributions.
- Corporate for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Grant: Federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which currently represents approximately 6% of annual budget. CPB provides essential support for public broadcasting stations.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Business support through sponsorship arrangements, with donors able to designate their support to specific stations (WYPR or WTMD) or the general Baltimore Public Media organization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly sustaining donations from $10 to $100+ |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | One-time gift contributions from $75 to $1,200+ |
| Subscription | Monthly | Baltimore Public Media combined station support |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Baltimore Public Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Baltimore Public Media operates two public radio stations — WYPR 88.1 FM (NPR news, talk, and regional journalism) and WTMD 89.7 FM (music discovery across multiple genres) — and produces digital podcasts covering news, arts, and culture. The organization delivers free, community-supported programming to the Baltimore metropolitan area via over-the-air broadcast, HD sub-channels, and online streaming.
Product overview
Baltimore Public Media operates as a unified public media organization combining two radio stations (WYPR 88.1 FM and WTMD 89.7 FM) and digital podcast offerings. WYPR serves as Baltimore's NPR News Station delivering news and information programming, while WTMD functions as Baltimore's Home for Total Music Discovery focused on music, arts, and cultural programming. The portfolio also includes HD radio sub-channels (WYPR HD2 BBC, WYPR HD3 All Classical, WTMD HD2) and multiple podcasts spanning news, culture, and community storytelling.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WYPR 88.1 FM: Baltimore's NPR News Station providing news, information, and cultural programming
- WTMD 89.7 FM
Products and services
- WYPR 88.1 FM WYPR 88.1 FM is Baltimore's NPR-affiliated public radio station delivering national and local news, talk programming, and in-depth regional journalism to the Baltimore metropolitan area. It serves listeners seeking trusted, non-commercial reporting and analysis.
- WTMD 89.7 FM WTMD 89.7 FM is a public radio station focused on music discovery across multiple genres, providing curated, non-commercial music programming to the Baltimore region. It serves listeners seeking alternative, indie, folk, and roots music that is not prioritized by commercial stations.
- BPM Podcasts A portfolio of original podcasts produced by Baltimore Public Media covering local news, arts, culture, and music topics. The podcasts extend the organization's journalism and music programming beyond the over-the-air broadcast into on-demand digital formats accessible via podcast platforms and the website.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reaches listeners across Maryland from Baltimore to Frederick and Ocean City
Companies that use Baltimore Public Media
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Baltimore Public Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Baltimore Public Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- idfivemajorBaltimore-based integrated marketing and communications agency that led Baltimore Public Media's rebranding process beginning January 2023. idfive engaged with Community Advisory Board, station board members, donors, staff, and the wider listening community to develop the new brand identity, logo, and enhanced platforms.
- Wendel PatrickmajorBaltimore artist and composer who collaborated with Baltimore Public Media to create a sonic identity for the organization. The composition consists of five distinct notes representing the five syllables of WTMD and WYPR, intended to invoke a sense of place with sounds of voices and movement reminiscent of the community.
- Towson UniversitymajorTowson University transferred ownership of WTMD to Your Public Radio (now Baltimore Public Media) in November 2021, bringing both listener-supported stations under unified ownership and preserving WTMD's distinctive music discovery format.
- Delmarva Public MediacoreCollaborative newsroom partnership providing comprehensive coverage of environmental issues for audiences across Maryland and surrounding regions. Baltimore Public Media's Environmental Reporter position is a multi-platform role based largely on Maryland's Eastern Shore working jointly with Delmarva Public Media.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Baltimore Public Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Baltimore Public Media social profiles
Digital presenceBaltimore Public Media compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Baltimore Public Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Baltimore Public Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Baltimore Public Media subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Baltimore Public Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Baltimore Public Media M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Baltimore Public Media
What does Baltimore Public Media do?
Baltimore Public Media operates two public radio stations — WYPR 88.1 FM (NPR news, talk, and regional journalism) and WTMD 89.7 FM (music discovery across multiple genres) — and produces digital podcasts covering news, arts, and culture. The organization delivers free, community-supported programming to the Baltimore metropolitan area via over-the-air broadcast, HD sub-channels, and online streaming.
Is Baltimore Public Media a public or private company?
Baltimore Public Media is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Baltimore Public Media founded?
Baltimore Public Media was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Baltimore Public Media based?
Baltimore Public Media is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
How does Baltimore Public Media make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Listener Donations/Membership is the primary driver. The others are corporate for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Grant and corporate Sponsorships.
Does Baltimore Public Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Baltimore Public Media.
What industry is Baltimore Public Media in?
Baltimore Public Media's product category is Public Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAB, Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus), with a secondary code of MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.