folk 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.

Celebration of John Prine’s Music

September 27, 2019 by WORT Music Department

Friday, October 4, the Mazomanie Music Conservancy will be recognizing John Prine’s birthday with a celebration of his music. Music starts at 6 pm with Staff Infection. Dos Utter Guys will be performing at 7 pm, featuring the music of John Prine.

Exclusive Videos Live from Blue Ox Festival!

June 17, 2018 by Sybil Augustine

Red-winged blackbirds sing back up for Pert’ Near Sandstone, Them Coulee Boys, Charlie Parr, Trout Steak Revival, Laska, and White Iron Band in this exclusive look behind the scenes at 2017’s Blue Ox Music Festival!! See and hear all six videos by clicking here. Video: Austin Duerst, Peter Allen Audio: Peter Allen Edited: Peter Allen Special […]

Erik Kramer’s experimental twist on folk music

May 31, 2018 by Tone Madison

Erik Kramer’s first solo release, A House, Floating In The Middle Of A Lake, was one of our favorite Madison records of 2017. Kramer combines folk guitar instrumentals with electronics and field recordings, but with an approach that varies a lot from track to track. “Gayatri” builds on an entrancingly bleary bed of synths and […]

Old Tin Can String Band Kicks Off WORT Block Party May 20

May 18, 2018 by WORT Music Department

The Old Tin Can String Band will be the first to hit the stage at 11 am to kick off the WORT Block Party on Sunday May 20. The band started in 2006 when ace fiddler Shauncey Ali tapped WORT’s own Chris Powers to sing and play a multitude of instruments (mandolin, bouzouki, guitar, etc.) for […]

Louka Patenaude on “Who Cooks For You?”

March 27, 2018 by WORT Music Department

Local multi-instrumentalist Louka Patenaude stopped by “Who Cooks For You?” on Friday, March 23. Louka played some songs and chatted with The Real Jaguar about songwriting, teaching music and playing out in Madison.

Emily Saliers MOVED to High Noon Saloon

July 27, 2017 by Back Porch Calendar

Murmuration Nation Tour Door Time 7:00pm Thirty years into one of the most storied careers in popular music, Emily Saliers decided to record her debut album. “What’s a 53 year old woman doing making her first solo record?” muses Saliers, best known as one half of the iconic duo Indigo Girls. “What compels someone like […]

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