American Public Media is the second-largest producer and distributor of public radio in the United States, behind NPR, and the largest owner and operator of public radio stations.

APM, based in St. Paul, Minn., produces national programs including A Prairie Home Companion and Marketplace. The company owns and operates the statewide Minnesota Public Radio network and Los Angeles news station KPCC.

MPR is a network of 42 stations throughout Minnesota, beginning in 1967 as a single classical music station in Collegeville, Minn. It is the largest employer of local journalists in public media. The network formed APM as its parent company after taking over KPCC from Pasadena City College in 2000.

APM’s founder and previous chief executive, Bill Kling, has advocated for stations severing their ties to universities has called for the largest metro stations to hire 100 reporters starting mid-2011, at a total cost of $100 to $150 million.

In fall 2010, Kling announced he would retire after 45 years as MPR’s chief. Jon McTaggart succeeded Kling in July 2011.