07/22/2025
Last week the US Congress narrowly passed a bill that will cut $1.1 billion in sanctioned funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Across the country more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations rely on this funding.
Since Putumayo’s inception we have worked with and depended on NPR stations around the United States to present our music to their audiences and to host our radio show, the Putumayo World Music Hour. Non-commercial radio stations play an essential role in bringing underrepresented music, voices and stories to audiences across the United States.
Public radio and television is an essential element of a thriving democracy and a vibrant, culturally rich society. There is a reason why over 100 countries in the world have publicly funded, non-commercial stations, such as the BBC in the UK, the CBC in Canada, ABC and SBS in Australia, and so many more. Relying solely on commercial outlets for our news, entertainment, educational and music programming will result in bland, shallow and partisan content that does not reflect the diversity of thought and culture of our nation.
We at Putumayo World Music encourage you to donate to your local NPR, PBS and public radio and television stations and have provided some links below. We also encourage you to advocate for the restoration of government support of public radio and television stations. What has been taken away can be given back if the people demand it!
Donate to your local PBS stations here: https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/support-pbs/
Donate to your local NPR stations here: https://www.npr.org/donations/support
