Dear Stations,

Please take a minute to read the statement we’ve just posted on our MPR website. We’ve decided to terminate our current contracts with Garrison Keillor and his private media companies. This decision will directly impact many of you, so it’s important that you know of our plans to support you during this time. Beginning today, APM will no longer distribute The Writer’s Almanac or The Best of A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, or any other content produced by Garrison’s private media companies.

I want to reassure you that our popular weekly show with Chris Thile will continue, with some exciting changes. Since its relaunch last fall, the program has been owned solely by APM and has had no direct association with Mr. Keillor or his private media companies beyond the show’s name, a few legacy sketches, sponsors and themes. Starting his Saturday, December 2, we will begin to implement changes we’ve been developing for some time and you’ll hear new ways that Chris is continuing to shape the program for a new generation of listeners.

Over the coming weeks and months, we will change the name of the show, drop the Prairie Home-related brands (e.g. Powdermilk Biscuits), and change the program in ways many of you have suggested. While these changes are being accelerated by an unexpected and disappointing turn of events this week, the program has been constantly evolving and we’re incredibly excited about its future. I hope you are too.

Starting tomorrow, APM will no longer distribute The Writer’s Almanac and we will offer temporary programming over the next two weeks to help you through the transition. If you carry The Writer’s Almanac, you’ll receive additional information via email and Content Depot alerts shortly.

Beginning this weekend, we will no longer offer The Best of A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor from the APHC archives. We strongly encourage you to repeat Chris Thile episodes instead.

Thank you for your continued support. We’re saddened by the circumstances, but feel strongly that the decisions we’ve made and the steps we’re taking are the right things to do for our programs, for your audiences and your stations. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Shona Koester
Vice President, Distribution & Content Partnerships