WTMD Announces Summer of First Thursdays, New Music Leadership, and Expanded Programming
WTMD, Baltimore Public Media’s home for Total Music Discovery, kicks off the summer with the return of its First Thursdays concert series, alongside new music leadership and programming that continues to expand how the station connects listeners to music and community.
WTMD’s First Thursdays return this summer with a refreshed visual identity created by Baltimore artist Emilee Beeson, alongside a new season of free outdoor concerts supported by CFG Bank that bring thousands of music fans together each month. The updated branding builds on the spirit of the festival and WTMD itself: Colorful, community- driven, and rooted in a strong sense of place, as one of Baltimore’s longest-running free concert series continues to evolve alongside the city it calls home.
The June lineup brings together a mix of voices that reflect the spirit of WTMD, with Fantastic Cat headlining, joined by Happy Landing, and Baltimore’s own Seven Teller opening the night. Together, the lineup reflects the mix of local discovery and nationally touring artists that has long defined the First Thursdays experience.
The season also reflects the creative direction of WTMD’s new Music Director, Alex Cortright, who officially stepped into the role on April 1. A longtime voice in Baltimore-area radio, Cortright brings decades of experience in music programming, artist interviews, and live music curation to the position, having hosted shows in the region for more than 20 years, including at WTMD since 2015. In addition to shaping the station’s on-air sound, Cortright leads artist booking across WTMD’s live platforms, including First Thursdays and Live Lunch.
“WTMD is built for music discovery and for connection, and that’s something I intend to continue growing in this role,” said Cortright. “Whether it’s what listeners hear on-air or experience at First Thursdays and Live Lunch, the goal is to create spaces where people can discover artists, connect with the music, and feel part of something bigger happening in Baltimore.”
WTMD continues to focus on breadth, discovery, and local connection, creating space for a wider range of artists and sounds alongside live experiences across the region.
That approach carries into new programming, including In The Pit with Izzi Bavis, a late- night weekend show dedicated to hardcore and heavier sounds. While the Triple A format is known for genre blending, dedicated hardcore programming remains rare within public radio, typically limited to specialty or college stations. In The Pit brings that sound into WTMD’s lineup, reflecting both the diversity of today’s music landscape and the station’s commitment to expanding what discovery can sound like.
“Part of WTMD’s identity has always been making room for passionate music fans and the sounds they care about, even when they fall outside traditional format lines,” said Maxie Jackson, Program Director at Baltimore Public Media. “In The Pit brings a different energy to the station, and that willingness to explore and take creative risks is a huge part of what keeps WTMD exciting.”
Across the schedule, WTMD continues to bring together a mix of new voices and familiar favorites, with programming that moves across genres while staying rooted in the station’s curatorial voice. From reggae and soul to indie, folk, and beyond, the focus remains on connecting listeners to music they might not hear anywhere else.
“These updates reflect how we continue to build on what makes WTMD special,” said Craig Swagler, President & CEO at Baltimore Public Media. “We’re investing in music discovery and live experiences in ways that bring people together, not just in Baltimore, but across the greater Maryland region.”
As WTMD heads into the summer season, these efforts signal a continued investment in music discovery, live experiences, and community connection—core to the station’s role within Baltimore Public Media and the audiences it serves.
