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!

Exclusive interview with Simone Bottasso of Duo Bottasso

November 20, 2020 by Music Department

World music host Jeff Spitzer-Resnick recently interviewed Simone Bottasso, an Italian accordion/flute player and half of the music group Duo Bottasso. They met virtually during WOMEX, the Worldwide Music Expo, and Simone explained the fascinating trajectory of the music and art he makes with his brother Nicolò Bottasso, from very traditional Italian Alpine dance music […]

Johnny Mercer on Journeys Into Jazz

November 17, 2020 by Music Department

For November 18th’s Journeys into Jazz from 2-5p, host Chuck France celebrates the birthday of songwriter Johnny Mercer, a favorite among jazz singers and instrumentalists. He wrote the lyrics to more than 1,500 songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway shows. He received nineteen Oscar nominations, and won four Best Original Song Oscars. Mercer teamed […]

WORT Goes To WOMEX

November 5, 2020 by Music Department

WOMEX-the Worldwide Music Expo-was forced to go virtual this year instead of its planned live presentation in Budapest. There were advantages and disadvantages with this decision. While the personal connections and ability to see musicians perform live were significantly diminished (though not completely eliminated,) the greatly reduced admission fee and elimination of travel costs allowed […]

A Live Recording of Pianist Johannes Wallmann on Strictly Jazz Sounds

October 19, 2020 by Music Department

The Thursday, October 22 edition of Strictly Jazz Sounds features an exclusive live recording of Johannes Wallmann and Other People’s Dreams, in concert at Café Coda on December 18, 2018. This performance showcases three original compositions by Wallmann, who is the Program director of Jazz Studies at UW-Madison. Also on the show are new releases […]

Strictly Jazz Sounds’ John Coltrane Special, Part 2

October 6, 2020 by Music Department

Tune in Thursday to “A John Coltrane Special: Part II” on Strictly Jazz Sounds featuring a complete, uninterrupted playing of A Love Supreme. Coltrane’s birthday (August 23) fell during the Pledge Drive so this is SJS co-host Steve Braunginn’s belated birthday celebration. Featured tracks from John Coltrane’s illustrious career include collaborations with Sonny Rollins and […]

Hear Rockin’ John’s LIVE shows from the past 2 weeks!

September 26, 2020 by Music Department

Thanks to all of you, Rockin’ John was back doing new & live shows from the WORT studios from 6 – 8 PM the last two Saturdays, Oct 3 and Sept 26. Both shows are now available to stream free, on-demand from our archives at http://archive.wortfm.org/. He agreed to be the guinea pig and give us […]

Now Playing

WORT Music Playlists

Contact Information

How do I get my music played on WORT?

In 2020, MPD deployed chemical weapons in record amounts

Gov. Evers Focuses on Broadband, Unemployment, and Redistricting in St...

Madison, the second week of January, 1968

Gene Editing and Pompe Disease

The Future of Trumpism

On big corporations regulating “free” speech

Would New State Funding Formula Help Or Hurt Ailing UW System?

Challenger for Dane County District Attorney Pulling No Punches

River Falls Faculty: No Confidence In UW Leaders