Music Department, Author at WORT 89.9 FM

WORT Music Playlists

What was that song I heard? Who was the artist, what is the album title, where can I get it? Where can I find the entire playlist for a show?

Click on the Playlists button to bring up a calendar where you can choose any date to find the playlists for that day. If you can’t find the right playlist or the song you’re looking for, your best bet is to call the station the next time that program’s on and ask the host yourself. If that’s not possible we may be able to help you, but please have as much information as possible at hand when you contact us, such as: approximate day and time the music was played, what type or genre of music it was, who hosted the show and any other information you remember about the selection and we’ll do our best to track it down.

Once you figure it out, there’s a “Buy It!” link next to each track in online playlists that leads you to a place where you can buy songs and albums, and by doing it that way a small portion of each purchase goes to support WORT.

Contact Information

Music Director: Sybil Augustine – musicdirector@wortfm.org (for music submissions, charts and tracking, promotional exchanges for music events and following up on volunteer applications or other requests. Please include specifics in your subject line, such as “Hiphop Music Submission” etc, )

Music Assistant: Aaron Scholz – musicass@wortfm.org (for record donations and sales, promos recording volunteers, etc.)

Music Calendars: Submit your events online here or send by email to calendar@wortfm.org

How do I get my music played on WORT?

We accept submissions in most genres and styles of music, focusing on noncommercial, out-of-the-mainstream, independent releases (check out our playlists and music charts for more information.) It may take up to a few weeks for us to review and process your submission so we appreciate your patience, and feel free to contact us to follow up. Please send your music, indicating any tracks with language that needs to be aired after 10 pm and including a one-sheet description and any biographical and tour information, to WORT Music Director, 118 S. Bedford St, Madison, WI 53703 and/or to musicdirector@wortfm.org.

We do accept digital files on .wav or mp3, but currently we still prefer CDs to digital submissions because it’s the quickest way to get it into the hands of our programmers and onto the airwaves, though we have a growing digital library. Digital submissions should be .wav or other lossless files, or high quality mp3s [128-320 kbps.]

You can follow up or “track” your submissions by email, or call 608-256-2001 on Wednesdays between 1-4 pm CST to ask if we received it, has it been reviewed, has it been added to our library, and what kind of airplay it’s getting—e.g. light, medium, heavy or charting. Thanks and we look forward to hearing your music!

Strictly Jazz Sounds Celebrates Terri Lyne Carrington

August 12, 2020 by Music Department

Drummer, singer, bandleader, composer, producer and entrepreneur Terri Lyne Carrington is a trailblazer and bridge-builder in the jazz world. Join host Steven Braunginn on the Thursday, August 13 edition of Strictly Jazz Sounds as he recognizes Carrington’s historic victories in the 68th Annual DownBeat Magazine critics poll. Carrington was a triple winner in the poll, […]

Strictly Jazz Sounds Celebrates John Coltrane!

July 16, 2020 by Music Department

Saxophonist legend John Coltrane died on July 17, 1967 at the young age of 40. The Thursday July 17 edition of Strictly Jazz Sounds will celebrate the musical accomplishments and contributions of this revered musician who fundamentally altered the direction and tenor of jazz. We will explore Coltrane’s brief but highly productive studio recordings, beginning […]

Missing jazz festivals? Strictly Jazz Sounds has the cure!

June 30, 2020 by Music Department

The Isthmus Jazz Festival, Madison’s perennial summer jazz outing, went dark this year because of the pandemic. Most festivals are canceling their summer concerts, leaving fans longing for live music. The Thursday, July 2 edition of Strictly Jazz Sounds will scratch that itch. The 3 o’clock hour will be packed with the sounds of the […]

Strictly Jazz Sounds “Jazz and Civil Rights” 6/18/2020

June 17, 2020 by Music Department

On the Thursday June 18 edition of Strictly Jazz Sounds host Steve Braunginn features “Jazz and Civil Rights: Past and Present” in the 4 o’ clock hour. Beginning with three selections from “What’s Goin’ On” by Motown legend Marvin Gaye, followed by the most recent release from renowned double bassist Christian McBride “The Movement Revisited: […]

Texas In Their Souls

June 17, 2020 by Music Department

Since publishing the dissertation that became the eminently readable (and recently updated) book Country Music USA in 1968, Bill Malone has become a widely recognized and respected country music scholar. For over 23 years Madison and South Central Wisconsin were fortunate to have Bill grace the WORT airwaves Wednesday mornings with ‘Back to the Country’; […]

Strictly Jazz Sounds Tribute Show 6/4/2020

June 4, 2020 by Music Department

On the Thursday June 4 edition of Strictly Jazz Sounds (2-5PM CDT) host Steve Braunginn has a special double feature. The 3:00 PM hour is a tribute to the surviving member of the first legendary Miles Davis sextet, and NEA Jazz Master, drummer Jimmy Cobb who died on May 24 from lung cancer. He was […]

Now Playing

WORT Music Playlists

Contact Information

How do I get my music played on WORT?

Madison in the Sixties – The Incident at Breese Stevens Field

Activists frustrated with officials over gun violence

Whose Streets?

Little-Known government agency funds fossil fuel exports

Scott Lehmann on Fitchburg City Council Race

Undecided? Learn about the Candidates for Governor on Aug 8

Dane County DA Defends Record, Elected Seat