news Archives - WORT 89.9 FM

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.

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!

This Week in the News with Matt Rothschild

July 23, 2020 by A Public Affair

For today’s show, Thursday host Allen Ruff has one of his periodic check-ins with friend of the show Matt Rothschild, director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Together with the input of listener callers, they have a freewheeling conversation about recent news items like the deployment of paramilitary forces in Portland, Oregon, threats to democracy and […]

Introducing the WORT Local News Podcast

July 15, 2020 by WORT News Department

Full episodes of WORT’s Daily Local News are now available wherever you get your podcasts. Each evening, the reporters and volunteer team at WORT will bring you the latest in breaking news, arts and culture, and everything in between. New episodes are available every Monday through Thursday at 7:30 PM. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, […]

Nerd News Nite April 2020

April 30, 2020 by Perpetual Notion Machine

Tonight on PNM: Kelly, Ary, and Josh talk about some cool science you might have missed due to the flood of COVID-19 news coverage. From enzymes engineered to ‘eat’ plastic to the possibility of extraterrestrial life, we hope to bring you some positive news! Links to articles & resources we mentioned: University of Wisconsin Experts […]

What’s the Word: Briefings

April 27, 2020 by Whats the Word and WORT News Department

With the recent backlash over his comments about potential treatments for COVID-19, the president’s advisors continue to push for a reduction in his daily press briefings. This week on “What’s the Word,” Adam Schuster takes a look at the history of the White House press briefing, its origins in the 19th century and its ever-evolving […]

Isthmus Goes Dark: What’s Next for Madison’s Alt-Weekly?

April 8, 2020 by A Public Affair

On March 17, the local alt-weekly newspaper Isthmus announced it would be going dark for an unknown period of time due to struggles brought on by the coronavirus outbreak in Madison. Today on the show, Isthmus editor Judy Davidoff and staff writer Dylan Brogan share their vision for the newspaper and what they are doing […]

News Reporting in the Time of COVID-19

April 6, 2020 by A Public Affair

Newsrooms around the country have been struggling for a while now. Last year, furloughs rippled through the industry with layoffs at major companies like Gannett. The COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders present yet another hurdle, as local news organizations are experiencing more furloughs, losing vital advertising dollars, and reporting under the constraints of social distancing—all […]

Now Playing

WORT Music Playlists

Contact Information

How do I get my music played on WORT?

Finance Committee Recommends Body Camera Pilot Program to Madison Coun...

County and UW-Madison leadership exchange heated words via press relea...

Amtrak to cut service to Wisconsin, furlough 2050 employees nationwide...

Day: How women can lead the fight for universal health care

A peace deal where there was no conflict provides a show for Nobel

Coerced Labor in America Today

Scott Lehmann on Fitchburg City Council Race

Undecided? Learn about the Candidates for Governor on Aug 8

Dane County DA Defends Record, Elected Seat