In 1978, when haughty National Public Radio refused to distribute it, Kling set about forming a separate operation (now Public Radio International) to do so.
This spring the company opened onMadison Avenue in New York, the first of five planned city-center stores in the U.S. It boasts a latte bar, scores of high-resolution flat-panel displays and a studio for a budding financial news and information operation that serves radio and the Web.