If you love classical music, there is a classical music stream out there for you!
Today, we’re looking at six options: five that originated as radio stations (although some have evolved far beyond basic over-the-air broadcasting) and one that began in 2015 specifically as a streaming service.
There are so many online classical music streams available that it can be overwhelming to choose a favourite. Sadly, we had to leave out hundreds of other options!
But to at least get you started, here’s a brief overview of what each stream offers and what makes each one stand out.
Happy listening!
YourClassical
YourClassical is a project of Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media.
This website is a hub for all sorts of classical music listening experiences: curated playlists, podcasts including Piano Puzzlers and Rhapsody in Black, shows like Symphonycast and Performance Today, and more.
They also feature streams tailored for specific moods and experiences. Interested in a handmade playlist of lullabies or “sad but sweet” classical music? YourClassical has you covered.
The organization writes on its About Us page:
Whether you’re relaxing after work, lulling your baby to sleep, or even powering through a tough workout, we’re here for you, with classical music for all of life’s moments.
The Classical Station
The Classical Station is the online home of WCPE, “a non-commercial, independent, listener-supported station dedicated to excellence in classical music broadcasting.”
WCPE is located in North Carolina and can be heard there over the air, but if you’re anywhere else in the world, you can tune in to their stream on their website.
The station is owned and operated by the Educational Information Corporation, a non-profit organization in North Carolina.
They explain on their website how they raise money to continue operations year after year:
For more than 40 years, The Classical Station has raised its operating funds by direct mail and two annual on-air fundraising campaigns each year. We get additional support from underwriting by businesses and cultural organizations. Since 2002, sustaining members have played an invaluable role in providing us with a reliable income stream every month.
If you want to support a 24-hour classical music stream with geographic roots in a specific community, The Classical Station would be a great choice!
WQXR
WQXR is a legendary station based in New York City, now part of New York Public Radio.
Their website describes their mission this way:
WQXR is New York City’s only all-classical music station, immersing listeners in the city’s rich musical life on-air at 105.9FM, online at WQXR.org, on-demand with podcasts, and through partnerships and events with our region’s concert halls and cultural institutions. As a public media station, WQXR is supported through the generosity of its members, donors, and sponsors, making classical music relevant, accessible and inspiring for all.
WQXR is a great choice for people who have a special interest in New York area performances. They carry performances from Carnegie Hall and broadcast projects with artists with New York connections, like Itzhak Perlman hosting a special about Passover-inspired music, or “Mahler and the Maestro”, a radio documentary that serves as a companion to the Oscar-nominated film Maestro.
Classical KUSC
The West Coast equivalent to WQXR is Classical KUSC, which broadcasts out of Los Angeles. Their website reports that they are now “the largest and most listened to public radio and non-profit classical music station in the United States.”
The station began life in 1946 as a student project on the campus of USC (the University of Southern California).
Oil magnate and Los Angeles Philharmonic cellist George Allan Hancock provided the initial funding to get the station off the ground…and the antenna in the air!
In 1973, they became the nation’s first professional full-time classical music radio station. The station’s headquarters shifted from a college campus to downtown Los Angeles.
Nowadays, the station offers multiple streams, with many focused on the Californian music scene, like the Classical California Movie Music Playlist or Nuestra Music en Espanol (Our Music in Spanish).
BBC Radio 3
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_three
The BBC is one of the most famous broadcasting institutions in the world. In 1920, the first radio broadcast took place in Britain, featuring internationally renowned soprano Dame Nellie Melba.
Classical music has been an integral part of the BBC’s offerings ever since, even as they’ve experienced massive expansion across multiple radio and television stations.
During the postwar period, the station known as the BBC Third Programme broadcasted a wide variety of cultural programming, including plays, documentaries, and classical music.
During this period, the station won a reputation for being high-brow and elitist: a perception it hasn’t completely shaken today.
In 1967, the ever-evolving BBC began taking steps to provide greater delineation between the classical music broadcasting and the talk broadcasting. The new station was labeled BBC Radio 3.
Nowadays, BBC Radio 3 is famous for its live broadcasts of British ensembles, record reviews, and music education programming.
Although classical music is Radio 3’s bread and butter, it also occasionally broadcasts other things, such as plays and short news broadcasts, making it a unique entry in this list.
If you like a little more variety in your listening, BBC Radio 3 might be the classical music stream for you!
Check out the list of programs here.
Idagio
If you want something more customisable, Idagio might be what you’re looking for.
Idagio is similar to Spotify or Pandora, in that it offers the ability to stream chosen albums or repertoire on demand.
Unlike Spotify or Pandora, however, it was designed specifically for classical music listening and includes specific metadata to make finding specific movements, composers, or performers easier.
The company was founded in 2015 in Germany. Over the ensuing years, it has signed deals with Sony Classical, Deutsche Grammophon, and Warner Classics.
As of 2025, there is a free tier and two paid tiers.
The free tier offers access to Idagio’s catalogue, but requires sign-up and features ads.
Premium costs €9.99 a month and removes ads, offers offline listening, and includes improved lossless audio quality.
The next tier up is €16.67 and includes all of that, plus access to exclusive Idagio concerts, additional educational programs, and more.
These features combine to make it one of the more unique offerings on this list.
In the end, no matter what your budget or your musical tastes, there is probably a classical music stream out there that you’ll love, whether based in Los Angeles, London, or Berlin.
Take a listen to these six services and see which one is your favorite!
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