improvised music Archives

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.

Blue Stem Jazz Presents: Kuzu Trio – Dave Rempis,Tyler Damon, T...

February 22, 2020 by Music Director

KUZU is a hard-charging but patient trio featuring saxophonist Dave Rempis, a stalwart of the Chicago improvised music scene, Tashi Dorji (guitar) and Tyler Damon (drums). Musically, these three create a highly focused palette of sounds. At times, spacious gestures carve up the canvas with the austerity of a calligrapher, while at others those sparse […]

Ben Ferris Octet & Nuggernaut

January 20, 2020 by WORT 89.9FM

The Ben Ferris Octet is an 8-piece band based out of Madison WI, playing music from 1920-Now with the sound of a big band and the clarity of a trio Nick Bartell, Jon Hoel, Luke Busch, saxophones Paul Dietrich, trumpet Darren Sterud, trombone Dave Stoler, keys Ben Ferris, bass Michael Koszewski, drums Nuggernaut is a […]

Mr. Chair with Special Guests Dave Cooper and Chris Bucheit

January 20, 2020 by WORT 89.9FM

Madison-based Mr. Chair are joined by Dave Cooper (Trumpet) and Chris Bucheit (Guitar) for a night of genre-blending original music. Mr. Chair’s affinity for collaboration with astonishing artists means no two shows are alike. Don’t miss this incredible night of music! ————————————- Mr. Chair looks like a jazz quartet, sounds sometimes like a rock group, […]

Displaced Horizons

October 9, 2018 by WORT 89.9FM

Displaced Horizons is a multimedia project focusing on water infrastructures’ socio-cultural and historical complexities to encourage a re-visioning of current water systems. Join us October 27th for an exhibition of video, photographs, and maps and performance featuring musicians John Dieterich (Deerhoof), Chris Jonas (Anthony Braxton, Cecil Taylor), Robert Lundberg (JOBS, Nestle) Ryan Packard (Fonema Consort, […]

yins: Matt Blair + Devin Drobka

September 21, 2017 by WORT 89.9FM

yins, featuring Matt Blair (piano, keyboard, and effects) and Devin Drobka (drums, percussion, and effects) is a Midwest-based duo that bridges the gap between jazz, improvisation, experimental, and electronica music. The band offers listeners music that is constantly searching for new ground while still maintaining a warmth and love for the expressive possibilities of music. […]

Ian Ethan Case

September 21, 2017 by WORT 89.9FM

Boston-based acoustic double-neck guitarist Ian Ethan Case performs at Arts + Literature Laboratory on Friday, November 10, 2017 at 8pm in support of his new album “Earth Suite.” Joining him is hand percussionist Daniel Feldman, a recent graduate of the Berklee School of Music. Tickets are $12 in advance online at http://ianethancaseall.bpt.me or $15 at […]

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Contact Information

How do I get my music played on WORT?

WORT Music Playlists

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