Know a WORT Volunteer: Heidi

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.

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, )

Digital Production Director: Aaron Scholz – aaron@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!

Bad Sister Heidi is currently co-hosting Psychoacoustics, which just celebrated their 24th anniversary!

Physchoacousitcs' Bad Sister Heidi — Bad Sister Heidi

WORT: When did you get started volunteering at the station?
Heidi: I started volunteering at WORT in the mid 90s and I have been an avid listener since the early 80s. I have gone from a weirdo making posters for a show I liked, without the knowledge of the hosts, to phone answerer and library runner, to on air personality.

What do you like to do when you’re not at the station?
I really enjoy going to see live music. I collect pajamas to wear during Psychoacoustics, make lefse with my husband, and maintain my kingdom of orchids, cats and rocks.

What is your favorite show on WORT?
My favorite shows are Mel and Floyd and Who Cooks for You? on Fridays.

I’m happy every time I turn on WORT becauses it’s diverse programming means I’ve got a really good chance of hearing something new to me.

What is something that only a WORT show host would know?
The various smells that happen inside the station, and their seasonal changes. Also, the long standing feud between myself and Mr. Smarty Pants.

Why should the Madison community listen to WORT?
WORT is Madison. Sure, we get listeners from all over the world, but as someone who grew up in Madison listening to WORT, it is one of the main things that makes this city great AND unique. Very few communities have provided a space on the airwaves that community members can access, and participate in with their time and energy.

Do you have any WORT stories?
My fondest memory is still, probably the first time I into the station. There were stickers on the walls, funky donated furniture, stereo blasting in the lobby, a sense of barely controlled chaos…it was everything I’d imagined a radio station should be. Then, I saw the record library, which at the time was all LPs, a barely filled bookshelf of CDs. I knew I had found a home where could make my radio dreams come true.

If you think you might like to volunteer at WORT like Bad Sister Heidi, contact our Volunteer Coordinator Glenn Mitroff.