Bill Malone 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.

Nate Gibson & the Hi-Fly Rangers at BarleyPop Live

July 30, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

Nate Gibson has been championing Starday Records–the largest independent country music record label in the 1950s and ‘60s–and it’s brand of classic country, bluegrass, East Texas honky-tonk, and rockabilly music for nearly two decades. The St. Louis-born, Kansas-reared Madisonian has released six full-length albums as well as several EPs and singles for Cow Island Music, […]

WORT Honors Back to the Country Host Bill Malone

July 30, 2019 by WORT Music Department

Tickets to the Tribute to Bill Malone at the Stoughton Opera House are SOLD OUT! Thank you for your support!! Hard tickets have been mailed to anyone who has already secured a ticket. We’re sorry, but at this point nobody at the station or at Stoughton Opera House can provide tickets to those who didn’t […]

The Story of Country Music – Live Streamed Event!

May 16, 2019 by WORT Web Department

Video and audio of this sold-out event is now available on-demand. Country music historian and WORT host Bill Malone, featured voice and consultant on the all-new Country Music film by Ken Burns, was Norman Gilliland‘s guest for an exclusive conversation on the rich story of this popular American music style presented by Wisconsin Public Television […]

Tom Paxton Interviewed on Back to the Country

February 9, 2018 by WORT Music Department

Bill Malone, host of Back To The Country, chats with renowned folk troubadour Tom Paxton in advance of his Feb. 11 show at the Barrymore Theatre. Tom discusses growing up in Oklahoma and his recent “retirement” as well as working alongside his opening act/backing band The Don Juans. Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and folk […]

Contra Dance at The Fort Atkinson Club

June 21, 2017 by WORT 89.9FM

Come Contra Dance on hardwood floors in the historic, air-conditioned, Fort Atkinson Club overlooking the Rock River. 211 South Water Street East, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin Saturday, July 15th in the River Room. 5:00 Potluck Optional: Bring a dish to pass 6:00–9:00 Contra Dancing Caller Dot Kent Band Three Thin Dimes New Dancers Adults and students […]

Bill Clifton: America’s Bluegrass Ambassador to the World

February 6, 2017 by 8 O'Clock Buzz

Bill and Bobbie Malone have for years brought the best in old-time country music to the WORT airwaves on “Back to the Country” on Wednesday mornings. In addition to being one of the superstar DJs of the WORT family, and a fine musician in his own right, Bill Malone is also a music historian. His […]

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How do I get my music played on WORT?

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