African Music Archives - 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!

Festival of Christmas & Midwinter Traditions

December 15, 2020 by Music Department

Folklore Village’s Festival of Christmas & Midwinter Traditions is now in its 73rd year, and its first as an online event! Join us for four days of music, dance, song, crafts, cooking, theater, social gatherings and more. Learn Romanian folk dances with instructors Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu; participate in a virtual singalong with songleader […]

From Virtual WOMEX: Exclusive WORT interview with FOKN BOIS

November 3, 2020 by PanAfrica

WORT world music programmer Jeff Spitzer-Resnick (co-host of PanAfrica and Diaspora) joined three other hosts: Gloria Hays, Ankur Malhotra and Dan Talmo at WOMEX-the Worldwide Music Expo, which was conducted virtually due to COVID. All four hosts are bringing music they discovered at WOMEX to WORT listeners, and they have also arranged for a number […]

Enjoy Audio & Video from Madison World Music Fest!

September 13, 2019 by Sybil Augustine

Enjoy music from unique and unexpected parts of the world and a celebration of cultures, with artists performing at the UW-Memorial Union Terrace.

Disaster Passport

November 30, 2018 by WORT 89.9FM

Disaster Passport is an eclectic, instrumental-only band that has been writing and performing in Madison since last winter. The quartet features two banjos played through effects and delay. Andy Moore (Winn Dixie) plays one of the five strings in a straight Appalachian style. Colin Crowley, who recently moved his family to Madison from Kenya, overlays […]

Trio Mokili

December 12, 2018 by WORT 89.9FM

Trio Mokili Join us for Trio Mokili on Friday, December 14, 2018 at 8pm. Tickets are $20 in advance online at http://triomokili12.bpt.me until 1 hour before the performance. Tickets $25 at the door starting at 7:30pm. The ALL Jazz Series is sponsored in part by Dobhan Restaurant, Alchemy, and Heid Music. Trio Mokili play roots […]

International Party Exchange w/ DJ B-Kem

July 3, 2018 by WORT 89.9FM

Don’t miss this special event coming to Madison every 1st Friday of the month at Nomad World Pub! DJ B-KEM will be mixing the hottest Afrobeats, Dancehall, Latin, Reggae, Soca, Top 40 and more!! * FREE ENTRY * FREE Street and Lot Parking * Music Starts at 10PM * Open to Public * 21+ * […]

Now Playing

WORT Music Playlists

Contact Information

How do I get my music played on WORT?

Celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday with WORT

Madison Police Prepare for Potential Armed Protests

Wisconsin Sees First Case of U.K. Based Strain of COVID-19

David Goodfriend on new local TV streaming app, Locast.

Representative Jimmy Anderson on disability and voting rights.

Accountability in the Flint Water Crisis

Scott Lehmann on Fitchburg City Council Race

Undecided? Learn about the Candidates for Governor on Aug 8

Dane County DA Defends Record, Elected Seat