- Heartland Public Radio
Infobox Network
network_name = Heartland Public Radio
network_
network_type = Public radio network
airdate = February 2004
country = USA
available =Global
founded = 2004
key_people =George Fair , President/Director of Programming
website = [http://www.hpr.org hpr.org]Heartland Public Radio (HPR) is a non-commercial, listener-supported, tax-exempt 501(c)3 non-profit media organization that broadcasts several Americana-formatted music radio feeds to a world-wide audience directly via the Internet and via affiliated terrestrial radio stations.
History
HPR was originally launched as a commercial Internet radio station in February 2004 under the moniker "Classic Heartland." Heartland Public Radio was incorporated in June 2006. In August 2006, HPR, Inc. filed for tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service. While awaiting its tax-exempt assignment, Heartland Public Radio, Inc. took over Classic Heartland on January 1, 2007. At that time, the online Classic Country radio station known as Classic Heartland officially ceased operation as an independent, commercial online radio station and became the Heartland Public Radio network feed HPR1: The Classic Country Channel. On this date, Heartland Public Radio also launched a second network feed known as HPR2: The Western Music Channel.
On April 16, 2007, Heartland Public Radio received its tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.
On January 1, 2008, a third channel of non-commercial programming was launched - HPR3: The Bluegrass Channel.
On June 1, 2008, due to extremely scant ratings and listener support, HPR3: The Bluegrass Channel evolved into HPR3: The Bluegrass Gospel Channel and began featuring an all-Bluegrass Gospel format targeting an under-served audience niche. Contributions from very loyal classic country and western music listeners to HPR1 and HPR2 were able to preserve existing programming on those two channels. Heartland Public Radio reported a 60% decline in listener contributions since the beginning of 2008 - probably due to a growing economic recession.
Original Programs
"Around The Campfire" with Marvin O'Dell
"All Things Country" with Rowena Muldavin
"Cash On The Barrelhead" with George Fair
"Near To The Heart" with Theresa O'Dell
"Truckin' Across The Heartland" with Trucker Rod
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
