The network was originally launched as Le FM de Radio-Canada in 1974, with stations in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City and Chicoutimi.

It presently covers the majority of Quebec, all provincial capitals (though Regina, Victoria, Edmonton, St. John's, Fredericton and Charlottetown are only served by rebroadcasters) and other large cities such as Toronto,[1] Calgary and Vancouver.

[2][3] Many high-brow cultural programs were moved to Première Chaîne, while the new Espace musique service adopted a more populist approach focusing on four genres – classical, jazz, world, and folk music – and French-language song.

For about two weeks in late August / early September 2004 leading up to the Espace musique relaunch, the network did not have any name, at least officially.

On May 4, 2011, the network began transmitting on Sirius XM satellite radio channel 153 across North America.