live 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.

Second Folk Fridays: Sam Ness

February 25, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

Join us for Second Folk Fridays, our free folk showcase featuring only the finest local Americana, folk, and bluegrass musicians on the second Friday of each month! This month we welcome Sam Ness! “Sam Ness is taking the Madison music scene by storm. His rugged charm coupled with immense talent have made him a stellar […]

Second Folk Fridays: Corey Mathew Hart

January 18, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

At a young age Corey’s voice has astounded audiences. “The human voice is such a wonderful and complex instrument, designed to convey more emotion and add more depth and dimension to the written word,” says Hart. His award winning vocals garner comparisons to Jeff Buckley and Ray LaMontagne. Hart shares the stage with a wide […]

Billy Joe and the Affordables: A Billy Joel tribute band

May 28, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

Madison’s Billy Joel Tribute Band comes back to the Mead Hall for a show that will rock your socks off. Billy Joe and the Affordables is a tribute to one of the greatest singer-songwriters and pianists of the 20th century: Billy Martin Joel. Our name comes from the fictitious band featured in the music video […]

Sweet Sheiks at Bos Meadery

June 28, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

Bringing a little bit of the Big Easy to the Brew City, Sweet Sheiks is a toe-tapping five-some inspired by the popular music of the teens, twenties, and thirties. Led by the vintage vocals of Jen Müttin-Schrank (guitar/saw/washboard), this violin (Ousia Lydian), banjo (Garrett Burton), clarinet (Andrew Spadafora), tuba (Aaron Johnson) lineup brings a modern flair […]

Juli Johnson & Linn Jennings

July 18, 2019 by thom jones

Juli Johnson is a singer/songwriter from Madison, WI. Her music is acoustic, filled with expressive melodies and emotional lyrics. She writes songs based on her personal experiences and relationships. Her style is similar to alternative pop. If you like the sound of Nora Jones or the voice of Tracy Chapman you’ll enjoy Juli’s music. Linn […]

Second Folk Fridays: Strangebyrds & Josh Harty

March 21, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

Join us for Second Folk Friday, our free folk showcase featuring only the finest local Americana, folk, and bluegrass musicians on the second Friday of each month! This month we welcome Strangebyrds and Josh Harty! Strangebyrds are an original “Blue Collar Folk-Americana” Duo who whose influences are Neil Young, Gillian Welch & Buddy & Julie […]

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Contact Information

How do I get my music played on WORT?

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