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.

The Reid Poetry Hour

November 3, 2018 by WORT 89.9FM

A one-hour spoken word program featuring Nathan J. Reid’s original work, which will be shared in both a live and pre-recorded capacity.

Zeroed Hero // Laurel & the Love-In // Backbuzz at The Wisco

May 28, 2019 by WORT 89.9FM

Zeroed Hero, Laurel & the Love-In, and BackBuzz at The Wisco Thursday, June 27th. $5. Doors at 7pm, rock & roll at 8pm. Come as you are, be nice, respect. Be sure to tip the bartenders & servers. Zeroed Hero pours a classic blend of ’70s and ’90s style rock that’s more Muhammad Ali than […]

But I wouldn’t know where to start

June 6, 2019 by Tone Madison

Shane O’Neill formed the band Screamin’ Cyn Cyn And The Pons more than 15 years ago with guitarist/vocalist Cynthia Burnson, drummer Steve Shah, and bassist Christian Burnson. During the mid oughts, the Pons were one of the most vital bands in Madison’s music community, and O’Neill often formed the glittery, hairy, and charismatic center of […]

Podcast short: A LÜMp sum

May 31, 2019 by Tone Madison

The Capital Times reported on Monday that Madison concert promoter FPC Live took part in a $750,000 funding round for LÜM, a music-streaming app developed in Madison. LÜM is currently in its second test version and heading for a public launch later this summer. An earlier test version in 2018 left us with some questions […]

Jonah Parzen-Johnson on the responsibility to take risks

May 23, 2019 by Tone Madison

Saxophonist and composer Jonah Parzen-Johnson’s solo work combines baritone sax and electronic instrumentation, and that opens up a whole lot of new dimensions when he performs live. Parzen-Johnson documents that process in a forthcoming live album recorded in Helsinki last year, titled Helsinki 8.12.18. It covers new material he’s been working on since he released […]

Sámi Indigenous History, Language, Music, and Activism

May 3, 2019 by A Public Affair

For this episode, Esty sits down with folk studies professor Tim Frandy to learn about the Sámi, the indigenous peoples of the Nordic countries. Over the course of the hour, they explore a wide range of topics, including Sámi history and lifeways, colonization and boarding schools, language, joik (traditional song), folk stories, and Indigenous activism […]

Now Playing

WORT Seeks Local Music Show Host/Producer!

Exclusive Videos Live from Blue Ox Festival!

Emerald Grove At The Stacks

Dead Horses At The Stacks

Contact Information

How do I get my music played on WORT?

WORT Music Playlists

Madison, the second week of June, 1969

But I wouldn’t know where to start

First week of June, 1969

Out in the Field: Cannabis Farming in Northern California

The Life and Work of Radical Philosopher Herbert Marcuse

Bridging the Racial Wealth Divide with Dedrick Asante-Muhammad

Undecided? Learn about the Candidates for Governor on Aug 8

Dane County DA Defends Record, Elected Seat

Would New State Funding Formula Help Or Hurt Ailing UW System?

The Reid Poetry Hour

Zeroed Hero // Laurel & the Love-In // Backbuzz at The Wisco

But I wouldn’t know where to start

Podcast short: A LÜMp sum

Jonah Parzen-Johnson on the responsibility to take risks

Sámi Indigenous History, Language, Music, and Activism