folk music 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.

Kaia Fowler at Wild Hog in the Woods

April 19, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

Singer-songwriter Kaia Fowler, an artist known for her awe-inspiring vocals and versatile guitar playing will give a solo concert. Kaia Fowler’s performance evokes transcendence and comfort even when witnessing difficult topics like personal loss, social inequality, and our fragile Earth. Kaia writes soulful songs that explore challenges, embrace resilience, and celebrate the joy of being […]

Jourdan Hines and the Dapper Whimsy

April 11, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

Come enjoy some tasty brews and celebrate Mary Wallin’s birthday! It’ll be an evening of delightful tunes, fun with friends, and great drinks at the eclectic Malt House. A smile is contagious, and so is a melody. Jourdan Hines’ feel-good music delivers smooth vocals, familiar guitar, and a feeling of homegrown happiness you won’t want […]

Haunted Like Human (Nashville) / Skylar Nahn / J Marsden

April 11, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

$5 cover to support touring and local music! The Wisco. 9 PM. 21+ Haunted Like Human is bringing a new roots voice to Nashville: two parts folk, one part Americana, and a dash of some indie vibes. Classically trained guitarist Cody Clark has played everything from post-hardcore to jazz. Vocalist Dale Chapman grew up writing […]

The Falderals and Barry Osborne at Mother Fool’s

April 3, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

The Falderals are a folk duo composed of husband and wife Andrew and Rebecca Andestic. Hailed by the Superior Telegram as a “true taste of American folk music,” the two met in the Peace Corps and have been playing music together ever since, starting around campfires in Armenia, then the streets of Chicago, and now […]

Fore String Coming Out!

March 27, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

Fore String debut show in Madison with special guests Old Oaks, Jourdan Hines, The Bitter Nothings, and Isabel Coff! Fore String takes alt/punk songs from the 90s & turns them into folk music. $5 suggested donation at the door. Door opens at 7pm Line up: Isabel Coff The Bitter Nothings Jourdan Hines Old Oaks Fore […]

Folksongs for Christmas Eve with Grammy-Nominated Folklorist Jim Leary...

December 24, 2018 by A Public Affair

For today’s special Christmas Eve edition of the show, Patty is joined in the studio by Jim Leary, UW–Madison professor emeritus of folklore and Scandinavian studies. Jim was recently nominated for a Grammy award in the Best Album Notes category for his work on the album Alpine Dreaming: The Helvetia Records Story, 1920–1924, released this year […]

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