CPM operates as the primary National Public Radio member organization for Chicago.

[2] The organization was started to take over the operation of 91.5 WBEZ from the Chicago Board of Education in 1990.

[4] On June 22, 2012, it was announced that CPM had purchased troubled WRTE from the National Museum of Mexican Art.

A nonbinding agreement for the deal had been announced in September 2021, and the board of Chicago Public Media had signalled its approval on January 18, 2022.

The final arrangement was backed with $61 million from several philanthropic organizations.