Shore Fire Media Inc.
06/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/23/2026 13:04
Classical California – LA is America’s Most-Listened-To Public Radio Station
Tuesday, June 23rd: LOS ANGELES, CA - Classical California 's Los Angeles station (formerly known as KUSC), has become the most-listened-to public radio station in the United States, according to Nielsen's May 2026 ratings.
The station reached more than 705,000 listeners during the ratings period, surpassing major public radio outlets including WNYC in New York (693,000 listeners) and KQED in San Francisco (645,000 listeners).
Meanwhile, Classical California's Bay Area station (formerly known as KDFC) tied for fifth place among all radio stations in the San Francisco market.
The ratings milestone follows the creation of Classical California, a unified statewide classical music network serving audiences across California and beyond. The organization combined operations and programming across its Los Angeles and San Francisco stations in October 2025 and completed the launch of its unified Classical California brand, website, and mobile app in February 2026.
Classical California is the nation's largest listener-supported public media organization dedicated to classical music, reaching more than two million listeners each month through its statewide radio network, streaming services, and digital platforms. In addition to its broadcast and digital programming, the organization serves communities across California through a range of music education and community engagement initiatives.
"These audience numbers are a powerful reminder that classical music continues to resonate with people in meaningful ways," said James Muhammad, President, Classical California. "We're honored that more listeners than ever are turning to Classical California for inspiration, connection, and discovery throughout their day."
ABOUT CLASSICAL CALIFORNIA
Classical California is America's largest, listener-supported public media organization for classical music, reaching roughly 2 million monthly listeners worldwide. We are dedicated to making everyday life more harmonious. Classical California enriches lives and communities through our innovative on-air and in-person music experiences, making it accessible, entertaining, and relevant for audiences of all ages. Our broadcasts reach across California through eleven (11) radio transmitters, anchored in Los Angeles (91.5 FM) and San Francisco (90.3 FM) with additional signals in Santa Barbara (93.7 FM), San Luis Obispo (99.7 FM), Palm Springs (88.5 FM), Thousand Oaks (91.1 FM), the Tri-Valley region (89.9 FM), Silicon Valley (104.9 FM), Ukiah-Lakeport (92.5 FM), Wine Country (89.9 FM) and Monterey (103.9 FM). Listeners can tune in through traditional radio, streaming on classicalcalifornia.org , smart speakers, and mobile apps. Classical California is a public service of the University of Southern California, one of the leading research universities in the nation, with a respected commitment to classical music, arts, and the community.
CLASSICAL CALIFORNIA ON THE WEB
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CLASSICAL CALIFORNIA, PLEASE CONTACT
Mikaela Duhs at [email protected]
Shore Fire Media Inc. published this content on June 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 23, 2026 at 19:04 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]