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Justin Barney

Justin Barney

Hi, I’m Justin. I was born in Milwaukee, WI. I started as an intern at 88Nine Radio Milwaukee and worked my way up to Music Director. There I started a segment called “From the Music Desk” where I interviewed over 500 artists including Thom York, Lizzo, Steve Martin, and Phoebe Bridgers. At 88nine I also got to speak passionately about the music I love on the radio, which is a true gift and I still get to do every day. There I also made a podcast called “Backspin: The Search for Milwaukee’s First Hip-Hop Song” which I enjoyed doing more than anything else I’ve ever done and was acclaimed in The New York Times. Highlight of my life. I love music, I love people and I love a good yarn. At the end of the day my goal is to tell stories that are as good as the ones my dad tells me. I’ll tell em on the radio, in print, or next to you at the corner bar.

Live Nation announces new venue in Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood called The Truth

By Justin Barney

October 28, 2025

The new venue will hold 4,400 people and enters into an increasingly competitive segment of the music booking industry in Nashville.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News

Nashville musician Blood Root processes grief through guitar pedals in new album

By Justin Barney

October 24, 2025

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Nashville is full of music gear heads. But in Taylor Wafford’s hometown of Havelock, North Carolina musicians didn’t come through town. They definitely didn’t hang out, analyzing pedal boards. When she moved here, she found a community — and a sound — by tapping a guitar pedal.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WNXP Tagged With: Blood Root

Nashville’s Eric Slick reimagines Rob Zombie’s “Dragula” like no AI ever could

By Justin Barney

October 17, 2025

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For Halloween, Nashville indie rock musician Eric Slick released a five song, orchestral suite, covering Rob Zombie’s very un-orchestral hit, “Dragula.” The project started as a joke. But Slick took the piece so seriously that it transcended to a work of art.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WNXP Tagged With: Dragula, Erick Slick

A community grieves

By Justin Barney

October 13, 2025

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As multiple resources have come in from all levels of government to investigate what happened, neighbors and community members have come together to support one another.

Filed Under: WPLN News Tagged With: AES Explosion

Harken Hall venue shows promise with new bookings — including the return of Music City Roots

By Justin Barney

October 1, 2025

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After setbacks, the Harken Hall venue in Madison is set to host the Music City Roots series, highlighting Americana artists.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News Tagged With: Harken Hall, Madison, Music City Roots

Theaters are showing more movies with captions on the screen. Will the trend grow?

By Justin Barney

September 26, 2025

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Nashville movies have become more accessible in recent months. Regal and the Belcourt Theatre have recently started to offer films with captions on the screen — called “open captioning” — of all their films.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News Tagged With: Belcourt Theatre, movies, Regal

Paul McCartney will be all over Nashville this fall

By Justin Barney

September 19, 2025

The 56th Nashville Film Festival kicked off Thursday with a documentary on the life of Paul McCartney.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News Tagged With: Paul McCartney

Nashville singer Emily Hines’ growth as a farmer and rising indie artist

By Justin Barney

September 4, 2025

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On summer mornings Emily Hines is up at daybreak harvesting the season’s fruits and vegetables. This year she’s also been tending to the garden of song.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WNXP Tagged With: Emily Hines, Keeled Scales, Nashville music, These Days

Worldwide hunt for long lost song ends in Nashville

By Justin Barney

August 7, 2025

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Nashville’s Alex Caress had all but given up on music. But passionate fans of a song that he wrote, have been trying to find him for years.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music Tagged With: Alex Caress, Don't Get Over Me, Lostwave, Mysapce, Nashville, WTOTL

The Grand Ole Opry and Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre share a lot more than a 100th birthday

By jewly hightandJustin Barney

August 5, 2025

As the Belcourt Theatre and Grand Ole Opry both turn 100 this year, here’s how their histories intertwine.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News Tagged With: Belcourt Theatre, Grand Ole Opry, history, Opry 100

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