It is owned by Chicago Public Media and is financed by listener contributions, corporate underwriting and some government funding.

WBEZ has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 5,700 watts with its transmitter atop the John Hancock Center on North Michigan Avenue.

WBEZ-HD2, carrying a user-generated content format focused on "urban alternative music" and branded Vocalo.org, is also relayed over WBEW (89.5 FM) in Chesterton, Indiana.

[6][7] In 1949, the station's transmitter was moved to Marshall Metropolitan High School in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood.

[9] In 1970, WBEZ joined National Public Radio as a charter member and began general programming outside of school hours.

[12] The corporate name was changed in 2010 to Chicago Public Media, Inc. Torey Malatia, the general manager, stepped down in July 2013 after 20 years with the station.

[18] Legendary jazz disc jockey Dick Buckley retained a time slot Sunday afternoons until mid-2008.

[22][23] A daytime hour of Newshour from the BBC World Service began Monday October 7, 2019, replacing The Morning Shift.

This American Life began in 1995 as the local show Your Radio Playhouse; it was renamed in March 1996 and has been national since June 1996.

Blues Before Sunrise, was eliminated from WBEZ's lineup in the 2007 restructuring, but was taken over by public radio station WDCB in nearby Glen Ellyn.

[30] Its morning magazine program Eight Forty-Eight was initially named after the postal address of the station, 848 East Grand Avenue.

[31] WBEZ touted the program as "a live talk show featuring in-depth interviews and conversations with [mostly local] newsmakers, artists, writers, and innovators".

[32] Original host Steve Edwards left the station after a few months,[33][34] and longtime Chicago Tribune journalist Rick Kogan temporarily replaced him.

[35][36] As of 2013 and the conclusion of Kogan's interim stint, WBEZ introduced Niala Boodhoo as the show's permanent on-air host.

[42] Other programs that air weekly include Snap Judgment with Glynn Washington, a story-telling show from PRX and NPR.