Andrew Ford OAM will depart ABC Radio National’s The Music Show at the end of the year, ending a 32-year tenure with the program.

A composer, writer and broadcaster, Ford has presented the program since February 1995. He stated his departure is due to the need to devote himself fully to composition.

“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.”

During his time on the program, Ford has interviewed various artists and cultural figures, including:

• Tom Jones
• Yehudi Menuhin
• Willie Nelson
• k.d. lang
• Chrissie Amphlett
• Smokey Robinson
• Laurie Anderson
• Sonny Rollins
• Wynton Marsalis
• Lou Reed
• Karlheinz Stockhausen

In 2016, Ford was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to music as a composer, author, and radio broadcaster. ABC Director Audio Ben Latimer described Ford's contribution to Australian music and Radio National as extraordinary.

The Music Show will return in 2027 with a new presenter to be announced later this year.