Composer, writer and broadcaster Andrew Ford will leave ABC Radio National’s The Music Show after 32 years of presenting. He will wrap up his role on the program at the end of the year to focus on composition full-time, with a new presenter to be announced later in 2026.

“For the past 32 years, when I haven’t been a musician asking questions of other musicians, I’ve been writing my own music or writing about music,” said Ford.

Andrew Ford. Photo supplied

“Composing requires long, uninterrupted stretches of time and I’ve found it harder each week to tear myself away from the manuscript paper for The Music Show. I still love doing the program and working with its excellent producers, but the time has come to pick a lane. From the end of the year, I’ll be a full-time composer. Maybe there’ll be some new books, too.”

Started in 1991 by producers Maureen Cooney and Penny Lomax with host musician Christopher Lawrence, The Music Show examines “all kinds of music and all kinds of musicians”, spanning  jazz, opera, hip-hop, folk and beyond.

Ford took over hosting duties from Julie Steiner in February 1995, and...