smart studios 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!

Listening Party for “Nirvana in Madison” Radio Special!

June 22, 2021 by Sybil Augustine

An hour-long radio special with interviews, audio clips and never-before-heard music explores Nirvana’s time in Madison and at WORT in 1989-90. The special is produced and hosted by former local rock fan and sound man Kurt Stream, author of the story of Nirvana’s time in Madison to be published in Madison Magazine on June 30. The Parched […]

Disq Spins Their Tunes at Willy Street Fair

September 13, 2017 by Brian D. Johnson and Music Department

The very talented up-and-coming band called Disq turns up their tunes at 1:10 pm on the 2017 WORT Underground Stage at the Willy Street Fair this Sunday, September 17. Isthmus describes Disq as “a dreamy power-pop act that sounds like a more psychedelic version of Pinkerton-era Weezer.” Disq founders Isaac deBroux-Slone and Raina Bock have been gigging […]

Clutch Sound & Picture Studios: Open for Business

July 31, 2017 by Brian D. Johnson and Music Department

Clutch Sound & Picture Studios is open for business and already thriving. Brian Liston, the owner of Clutch, has opened a state-of-the-art facility at 2987 Yarmouth Greenway Drive in Fitchburg and, after a few months of operation, the studio is almost booked to capacity. Clutch is the successor of the legendary Smart Studios, the musical […]

Swamp Thing reunites for WORT benefit Thursday

June 30, 2016 by Joseph Crawford Mrazek

Madison, prepare for a time warp. Swamp Thing reunites this Thursday, June 30th, in a WORT benefit at the Crystal Corner Bar, 1302 Williamson Street. They’ll perform the entirety of their 1985 debut album Learning to Disintegrate, in addition to covers and other Swamp Thing classics. The quirky ’80s alt-rockers, featuring WORT’s own Jonathan Zarov […]

“The Smart Studios Story” Music Special Tonight

April 15, 2016 by Music Department

Coming soon to a Transistor Radio near you: Friday April 15th, 8 to 11 pm Something Else! presents “The Smart Studios Story -The Radio Version”. In anticipation of the Madison premiere of the Smart Studios Story film, Harry Rag will be playing tracks recorded and/or mixed at Madison’s own Smart Studios with special guests and rare tracks. […]

“The Smart Studio Story” film release

March 30, 2016 by 8 O'Clock Buzz

Guest host Liz DiNovella interviews Wendy Schneider about her upcoming documentary “The Smart Studios Story“. She follows the legendary Smart Studio of Madison and the music scene including Butch Vig, Garbage, and many others. A couple of sold-out premiers will be held in Madison on April 17th and 19th, and a release after-party at the […]

Now Playing

WORT Music Playlists

Contact Information

How do I get my music played on WORT?

Madison, the fourth week of June, 1966

Get the lead out: Stoughton’s lead pipeline removal is under way

In the depths of Lake Michigan, ideal conditions preserve 200 years of...

Dissecting 2021’s nation-wide wave of Anti-Trans Legislation

Join in The Grand March for citizenship!

How “Silver Spoon Oligarchs” cheat the system to hoard the...