Jazz Archives - WORT 89.9 FM

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!

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.

WORT Celebrates 44 Years With Our Birthday Bash

November 7, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

Come Celebrate With Us! WORT Community Radio is excited for our 44th Birthday Bash at Crucible on Sunday, December 1st from 5 to 8pm–Our Actual Birthday! This year it promises to be a real circus — We have Professor Pinkerton of Dead Man’s Carnival bringing his Irrelevant Orchestra from Milwaukee to headline the festivities with […]

Jon Hoel Trio at Audio for the Arts

October 16, 2019 by Back Porch Serenade

On Tuesday, October 15th, Madison saxophonist Jon Hoel stopped by the WORT studios to talk with “Back Porch Serenade’s” Peter Haney about his trio’s Oct. 18 performance at Audio for the Arts . One of Madison’s hardest working jazz groups, the Jon Hoel Trio features Ben Ferris on bass and Kelby Kryshak on drums and […]

Seeking Volunteer Jazz Host!

September 6, 2019 by Sybil Augustine

We’re looking for the perfect jazz collector, historian and fan to host on Wednesdays from 2-5 pm. The deadline to apply is Friday, Sept. 6. WORT’s afternoon jazz shows are legendary, and Wednesdays are no exception. The recent tragic loss of longtime host Gary Alderman has left a gap that can never truly be filled, […]

Please Share Your Memories of DJ Gary Alderman

July 24, 2019 by Sybil Augustine

For 35 years Gary Alderman hosted Journeys Into Jazz Wednesdays from 2-5 pm on WORT. Read more about the history of this beloved icon of Madison jazz and dedicated radio volunteer, and share your own memories of Gary using the form at the bottom. Channel 3 did a news story about Gary and WORT. This […]

June Music Charts: Hot Licks & Warm Picks!

July 12, 2019 by WORT Music Department

Here are all our rock, blues, jazz, world, electronic and heavy metal charts for the month of June. There’s so much great new music coming out – be sure to shop at your local stores first!! Black Mountain took over the top spot in the latter half of the month, with Shana Cleveland, King Gizzard […]

Madison Area Music Awards Finalist Party!

March 24, 2019 by Sybil Augustine

On March 31 the top finalists for 2019 MAMA Awards will be revealed. Be the first to know at the Announcement Party at the Brink Lounge, 701 E. Washington Ave from 5-9 pm. General admission and VIP tickets are available online and at the door. You’ll get to hear live performances by Katie Scullin, Angela Puerta, […]

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Contact Information

How do I get my music played on WORT?

WORT Music Playlists

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