ARD launches ARD Schlagerwelt digital hub for German Schlager fans

The ARD public‑broadcast consortium has created a single digital home for its Schlager programming called ARD Schlagerwelt, now available on the ARD Sounds audio platform. Coordinated by MDR, the service aggregates music, stories and established formats from several regional broadcasters, including live streams from BR Schlager, NDR Schlager and the MDR Schlagerwelt. It offers themed loops, curated playlists and on‑demand access across apps, smart speakers, smartphones and connected cars.

Ulrich Böhme, coordinator of the project, said the hub provides “the first central point for the diverse Schlager offerings of the ARD in the audio space,” meeting changing media‑consumption habits. A new linear radio‑web channel is planned for 2027, and three DAB+ waves will be discontinued, replaced by an internet‑only linear program under the ARD Schlagerwelt name.

The launch marks a shift from traditional broadcast to a fully digital, on‑demand experience for the long‑standing Schlager community in Germany.