'The Local Show' host Andrea Swensson is leaving The Current
After nine years at 89.3 The Current, Andrea Swensson has announced she's leaving.
The host of The Local Show says the broadcast on Sunday, Apr. 4 will be her last, as she starts a "new chapter" in her career.
Swensson joined Minnesota Public Radio from City Pages, where she was the music editor, and five years ago became the host of The Local Show, the weekly broadcast that celebrates Minnesota-made music.
"The time has come for me to find my next thing," she wrote on The Current website.
"I am starting a new chapter as a self-employed music writer, author, and podcaster. After nine years at The Current and five years at the helm of The Local Show, my last episode will air on Sunday, April 4."
Paying tribute to Swensson is MPR President Duchesne Drew, who said: "Andrea’s contributions to The Current and Minnesota’s music scene are too many to count in this moment, but I want to thank her for her sharing her insights, creativity and passion for local music with our listeners and our community."
It's been a year of change at 89.3 FM, with long-serving host Mark Wheat leaving in June, followed in September by Eric Malmberg, who was removed from the air as MPR dealt with allegations of historic inappropriate behavior by a Current host.
Swensson was among the MPR employees who spoke out at the time, expressing frustration at MPR's efforts to address sexual harassment in the wider music scene, saying she had brought four possible stories to the attention of those in "positions of power" regarding predatory behavior within the Twin Cities media scene, but was met with roadblocks. You can read more on that here.
In January, The Current announced the addition of Twin Cities locals Zeke Salo and Maddie Schwappach as on-air hosts.