WORT FM

WORT FM Listener-sponsored, volunteer-powered community radio broadcasting to Madison and beyond.
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We are a nonprofit and noncommercial community radio station based in Madison,
and broadcasting to south-central Wisconsin. Founded in 1975, the station is driven by
hundreds of on-air and off-air volunteers, a small staff collective, a Board of Directors, and
many listeners and listener-sponsors. At the core of the WORT mission is the facilitation of community expression. We strive to challenge t

he cultural and intellectual assumptions of our listeners through unique and diverse local programming, and include audiences and programmers underrepresented in other media. Almost all our 24/7 programming is produced by volunteer members of the community. Our
deejays share music across all genres, our reporters cover local news impacting our community,
our talk shows provide a forum for the discussion of public issues, and our public access
programming allows individuals in the community a chance to host a radio show of their own. For more information about WORT, and to listen to our programming, visit our website at
wortfm.org or tune into 89.9 FM. Find the many ways to listen here: https://www.wortfm.org/how-to-listen-to-wort/

Volunteer for WORT by following this link: https://www.wortfm.org/become-volunteer/

Nominate WORT FM in Madison Magazine’s Best of Madison!Best of Madison recognizes the top people, places and things to d...
02/06/2025

Nominate WORT FM in Madison Magazine’s Best of Madison!

Best of Madison recognizes the top people, places and things to do that make our city special. We would love your help in recognizing WORT for the amazing work of our programming and volunteers!

You can nominate our website, station and shows daily in the following categories...

Nominate "WORT FM Community Radio" for:
🔸Volunteer Opportunity

Nominate "wortfm.org" for:
🔸Local News Website

You can also nominate your favorite WORT shows and hosts (like Mel & Mr. Smarty Pants) for:
🔸Local Podcast
🔸Radio Team

How to nominate:
1. Go to the Best of Madison nominate page
2. Type your nomination in each category
3. Nominate daily! Nominations are open February 1 - 28

Link to the nomination form: https://madisonmagazine.secondstreetapp.com/Best-of-Madison-2025/gallery/?group=50587

Thank you for being part of our community! 🧡

What the hell is this anyway???🤨What you see here is known affectionately amongst audio engineers as a "di**le stick".Th...
02/05/2025

What the hell is this anyway???🤨

What you see here is known affectionately amongst audio engineers as a "di**le stick".

This little guy is used to adjust potentiometers (aka POTS) that are recessed behind the housing of a piece of equipment that should not be mucked around with once set. It's also used to miraculously fix audio problems from a device that was set incorrectly long ago, which was then discovered and resolved using one of these bad boys, as was the case in Das Boot a couple years ago.

Sure, a really small screwdriver could do the same thing, but using something called a di**le stick has an inherent charm, don't you think?

We owe these insights to Thom Jones, our outstanding Technical and Facilities Director.

**lestick

As a way to give Wisconsinites realtime information and support, Voces de la Frontera has recently launched a bilingual ...
02/03/2025

As a way to give Wisconsinites realtime information and support, Voces de la Frontera has recently launched a bilingual emergency hotline. The hotline is to verify the presence of ICE in a community, or in cases of an emergency.

You can reach the hotline at 414-465-8078. Staff or volunteers on the other end of the line can provide callers with legal, emotional and practical tools to help protect themselves and their families.

Luis Velasquez, Deputy Director of Organizing for the Eastern Region for Voces, joined Tony Castañeda to share more tips on how Voces is helping immigrants navigate the uncertain times ahead. Listen: https://www.wortfm.org/know-your-rights-if-you-encounter-ice/

The winner of Chiliocracy 8 is… Mickey's Tavern!And the runner-up award goes to our wonderful hosts, Harmony Bar & Grill...
02/02/2025

The winner of Chiliocracy 8 is…
Mickey's Tavern!

And the runner-up award goes to our wonderful hosts, Harmony Bar & Grill!

Thank you to the hard-working individuals who brought this event to life and to everyone who came out to support WORT at our 8th annual Chiliocracy event. A special thank you to the participating local restaurants and The Spine Stealers for supplying great food, music, and fun.

Please join us in welcoming Sara Gabler, the newest producer of A Public Affair! 💬Sara comes to the role with serious in...
02/01/2025

Please join us in welcoming Sara Gabler, the newest producer of A Public Affair! 💬

Sara comes to the role with serious investigative and literary chops. Her expertise spans the gamut from investigative reporting to environmental journalism to narrative nonfiction. 🕵🏻‍♀️

Sara holds a PhD in Literary Studies from UW-Madison, where she not only taught composition and literature but also brought her skills to the community. And, she's a talented digital and fabric artist. 📚🪡

MORE ➡️

WORT is excited to welcome the talented Sara Gabler as our newest Talk Producer.

Can't wait for tomorrow at the Harmony Bar & Grill❗So much yummy for your tummy in one place 😋  Check out the cook-off's...
01/31/2025

Can't wait for tomorrow at the Harmony Bar & Grill❗So much yummy for your tummy in one place 😋 Check out the cook-off's chili entries 1 to 4pm and 🎶 by the superb Spine Stealers. Warm your soul (& your belly) by supporting WORT FM 🙏
https://facebook.com/events/s/chiliocracy-8/972138908176268/

Get ready to mark your ballots! Your candidates for Chiliocracy 8 are…Harmony Bar & Grill, Echo Tap & Grill, The Lone Gi...
01/30/2025

Get ready to mark your ballots! Your candidates for Chiliocracy 8 are…

Harmony Bar & Grill, Echo Tap & Grill, The Lone Girl Brewing Company, Mickey's Tavern, Coopers Tavern, Dexter's Pub, Green Owl café and deli, and Justveggiez 100% Vegan.

Who will be the new Supreme Commander of Chili? You can have a say this Saturday at Harmony Bar and Grill. The event is from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

See you there!

Last chance! Today is the final cutoff for restaurants to announce their candidacy. We have room for 1 or 2 more... Emai...
01/29/2025

Last chance! Today is the final cutoff for restaurants to announce their candidacy. We have room for 1 or 2 more... Email Doug at [email protected] or call 608-321-9597.

The Spine Stealers are playing at Harmony Bar on February 1 for our 8th annual ChiliOcracy! Enjoy some great acoustic mu...
01/25/2025

The Spine Stealers are playing at Harmony Bar on February 1 for our 8th annual ChiliOcracy!

Enjoy some great acoustic music from the band while you sample chilis from local restaurants. Check out the event on our pinned post or on our website for more ChiliOcracy details.

About The Spine Stealers:

The Spine Stealers are a two-women duo making “spooky folk” influenced by the north-wood Wisconsin pines, 24/7 truck stop diners, heartbreak and dark lakes. They started learning guitar together around bonfires in their shared hometown during the height of the pandemic, soon writing songs inspired by lonesome winters, the heartaches of nostalgia and broken ideas of love.

After frequenting open mics in July of 2022, they started landing gigs in Madison, WI and throughout the Midwest. The duo opened for Dead Horses at Madison’s Majestic Theater for Folk Fest 2023, won the 2023 Blue Ox Music Festival Virtual band Competition and played at the fest, and released their first EP, “River Teeth Tapes” in July, 2023.

In their second year as a band the duo has played the lounge at Stoughton Opera House for Elephant Revival and Haley Heyndrickx, opened for Arcadian Wild, played Project North Festival in Rhinelander, Boogiedown festival in Yuba, WI, and was featured in Gems on VHS October Playlist. The duo released their debut album, "If The Sky Falls, Beyond The Sidewalks" in October of 2024.

“Ghostly electric figures and a voice layered in light distortion create an unshakable impression at the start of The Spine Stealers’ latest single, “Midwest Winter.” - TONE MAGAZINE
https://tonemadison.com/articles/the-spine-stealers-return-with-a-haunting-ambient-folk-delicacy/

You can find out more about The Spine Stealers and their music on their website www.thespinestealers.com, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Spotify and Bandcamp.

In honor of our 50th year, here’s a throwback to a 1979 WORT pledge mailer. The style has changed, but our message remai...
01/25/2025

In honor of our 50th year, here’s a throwback to a 1979 WORT pledge mailer. The style has changed, but our message remains the same. As a volunteer-powered community radio station, we will always need your support.

Our winter pledge drive starts February 26 and runs until March 9. Stay tuned!

This pledge mailer doubles as an advertisement for a WORT 89.7 FM sponsored show. Saxophonists Dexter Gordon and Johnny Griffin appeared at the auditorium on what was formerly known as the MATC campus in Madison on November 15, 1979.

Gordon and Griffin collaborated on many albums and toured together in the late 70s, making a huge impression at the 1978 Ann Arbor Jazz Festival with their two tenor attack.

Were you at this show? Leave a comment!

01/24/2025

Interested in volunteering, getting involved at the WORT station, or meeting your favorite WORT DJ? February 26 through March 9 we'll need YOUR help answering phones and taking pledges from our devoted WORT listeners.

Details about phone shifts:
- No prior experience necessary and hands-on training available for each shift.
- Shifts start at 7AM and go until 10PM to fit your scheduling needs.
- Enjoy free meals and snacks from local restaurants.
- Sign up with a family member or friend!

Copy this link and paste it into your browser (this link will not work if you just click it) to sign up to answer phones for your favorite WORT show: https://www.wortfm.org/cgi-bin/longsignup

Thank you to The Daily Cardinal for highlighting the efforts of our WORT volunteers and   our impact on local artists an...
01/23/2025

Thank you to The Daily Cardinal for highlighting the efforts of our WORT volunteers and our impact on local artists and the community.

Click on the linked article for the full story!

Volunteers give WORT their time and energy, and in turn, WORT gives them an outlet to share their passion with the community. 

01/23/2025

We have receipts! 🧾

It's easy to request your 2024 donation history from WORT. Just click on this link, complete the form, and we will email or mail you your information (your preference).

We save over $4,000 by sending donation histories only to donors who request them. We can use that money to improve operations here at the station. Thank you for your donation, and thank you for your understanding.

CLICK HERE: www.wortfm.org/wort-donation-history-request/

On January 18th, hundreds of demonstrators marched down East Washington Avenue for a rally at the Wisconsin State Capito...
01/21/2025

On January 18th, hundreds of demonstrators marched down East Washington Avenue for a rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol as part of a nationwide “People’s March” movement. The demonstrators represented a wide variety of organizations and political ideologies, but were united in their shared opposition to the incoming Trump administration.

The “People’s March” demonstrators marched down East Washington Avenue to the State Capitol holding handmade signs advocating for a wide variety of causes, including women’s rights, workers’ rights, abortion rights, trans rights, immigrant rights, Black rights, Indigenous rights, and global solidarity. Many signs expressed concern over the American healthcare system, the perceived formation of an oligarchy and women’s rights to an abortion.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the State Capitol rotunda, where a series of speakers advocated for a wide variety of causes. The Raging Grannies lead the crowd in song, State Representative Francesca Hong emphasized the importance of community and spoke out against what she described as the Democratic establishment’s abandonment of the working call, and a number of performers were featured, including burlesque performer Plezher Erde.

All photos courtesy of Erik Schwerdtfeger/WORT News.
https://www.wortfm.org/in-photos-the-peoples-march-on.../

Bryan Switzky live on Green Morning Radio!
01/21/2025

Bryan Switzky live on Green Morning Radio!

WORT - DO NOT REMOVEA few albums today in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Otis Spann with Muddy Waters & His B...
01/20/2025

WORT - DO NOT REMOVE

A few albums today in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Otis Spann with Muddy Waters & His Band, Live the Life, 1964-1969

Alex Haley Tells the Story of His Search for Roots, 1977

Nikki Giovanni, Truth is On Its Way, 1971

From January 1965 interview in Pl***oy Magazine between Haley and Kin:

Haley: We Shall Overcome has become the unofficial song and slogan of the civil rights movement. Do you consider such inspirational anthems important to morale?

King: In a sense, songs are the soul of a movement. Consider, in World War Two, Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition, and in World War One, Over There and Tipperary, and during the Civil War, Battle Hymn of the Republic and John Brown’s Body. A Negro song anthology would include sorrow songs, shouts for joy, battle hymns, anthems. Since slavery, the Negro has sung throughout his struggle in America. Steal Away and Go Down, Moses were the songs of faith and inspiration which were sung on the plantations. For the same reasons the slaves sang, Negroes today sing freedom songs, for we, too, are in bo***ge. We sing out our determination that “We shall overcome, black and white together, we shall overcome someday.”

“Quilts” by Nikki Giovanni

Like a fading piece of cloth
I am a failure

No longer do I cover tables filled with food and laughter
My seams are frayed my hems falling my strength no longer able
To hold the hot and cold

I wish for those first days
When just woven I could keep water
From seeping through
Repelled stains with the tightness of my weave
Dazzled the sunlight with my
Reflection

I grow old though pleased with my memories
The tasks I can no longer complete
Are balanced by the love of the tasks gone past

I offer no apology only
this plea:

When I am frayed and strained and drizzle at the end
Please someone cut a square and put me in a quilt
That I might keep some child warm

And some old person with no one else to talk to
Will hear my whispers

And cuddle
near

Tune in to 89.9FM today at noon and 6 p.m. to celebrate the 2025 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday with WORT!At n...
01/20/2025

Tune in to 89.9FM today at noon and 6 p.m. to celebrate the 2025 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday with WORT!

At noon, tune in for the 45th Annual State of Wisconsin Tribute and Ceremony honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This official state ceremony, held in the Capitol Rotunda, is the oldest official MLK state celebration in the U.S. and is free and open to the public. The theme of this year’s Tribute is “Justice Lives Here.” Marcelia N. Nicholson, the Chair of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, will give the keynote address.

At 6 p.m., WORT will air the 40th Annual Madison/Dane County King Holiday Observance, live from the Overture Center and presented by the Madison/Dane County King Coalition. The observance will feature a presentation of the Madison-Dane County Humanitarian Awards, performances from the MLK Community Choir led by noted musicians Leotha and Tamera Stanley, and a keynote speech from Bishop Vashti McKenzie. This year’s MC is Angela Russell.

Watch and find additional MLK Day events hosted by the King Coalition and other community groups at mlkingcoalition.org.

Go to our website to learn more about keynote speaker Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie and the Madison-Dane County MLK, Jr. Humanitarian Award-winners Charles Tubbs and Sheray Wallace. https://www.wortfm.org/celebrate-the-2025-rev-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-holiday-with-wort/

Interested in the local jazz or classical music scene? Check out three recent guests on WORT who have upcoming performan...
01/17/2025

Interested in the local jazz or classical music scene? Check out three recent guests on WORT who have upcoming performances!

1) Milwaukee native Tim Whalen is a highly versatile jazz pianist, keyboard player, producer, composer, arranger and educator. On January 15, Whalen appeared on WORT’s Journeys into Jazz to discuss several upcoming gigs, his music, and his successful start in the music business with Phat Phunktion, the group he formed with Al Falaschi.

You can catch Whalen on Saturday, January 18 at 8 p.m. as part of the Tom Gullion Quintet at the North Street Cabaret. Phat Phunktion will also be at the High Noon Saloon on February 8.

Learn more about Tim Whalen on our website! https://www.wortfm.org/tim-whalen-visits-wort/

2) On January 9, Madison Symphony Orchestra Music Director Maestro John Lee DeMain spoke with Ava Borelli about the upcoming performances of “Beethoven x 3,” January 17-19 in Overture Hall. This concert opens with the Leonore Overture, features the Triple Concerto with violinist Gil Shaham, pianist Orli Shaham and cellist Sterling Elliott, and closes with Symphony No. 2.

More information about the performance this weekend is available at madisonsymphony.org. Listen to the full conversation on our website. https://www.wortfm.org/mso-beethoven-with-john-demain/

3) On January 7, Lawren Brianna Ware: Composer and Pianist stopped by the WORT studios to discuss her work with host Peter Haney. In the interview, she reflects on several compositions of hers that have recently been recorded, including “Delta Daze,” a work for solo trombone and electronics, “Italian Portraits” for solo piano, and “The Featherheart” for clarinet and piano. Dr. Ware’s music tends to be lush and tonal, with strong programmatic elements, often related to landscape.

Dr. Ware’s next public performance will be at the Dane County Martin Luther King Holiday Observance in the Overture Center for the Arts Rotunda on Monday, January 20.

For more information about Dr. Ware, listen to the full interview on our website! https://www.wortfm.org/lawren-brianna-wares-music-is-getting-noticed/

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118 S Bedford Street
Madison, WI
53703

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WORT 89.9 FM is a noncommercial, non-profit radio & webcast emanating from Madison to South Central Wisconsin via broadcast, and available worldwide through online streaming and archives. We provide an outlet for communication, education, free expression, entertainment, training, and access for the purpose of sharing music, cultural experiences, and news over the airways and internet. Please visit our website at www.wortfm.org for information on how to submit news tips or music, get in touch with the music or news departments, volunteer for WORT, contact individual program hosts, etc. Back Porch Radio Broadcasting Inc (dba WORT) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit.