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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.

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

New album honors the National Symphony Orchestra, snubs Trump’s Kennedy Center changes

By Justin Barney

July 23, 2025

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Pop pianist Ben Folds’ new record is a celebration of the National Symphony Orchestra, and a protest against President Trump’s changes at the Kennedy Center.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News Tagged With: Ben Folds, Kennedy Center, music

What does it take to pull off the Nashville concerts you love? Meet the Wrangler

By Justin Barney

July 9, 2025

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When you go to a live show, you expect to see a spectacle — and behind the scenes, there’s one person responsible for bringing this production to life, wrangling dozens of people and fixing daily snafus.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, Music Citizens, WNXP Tagged With: Music Citizens, Production Manager, Sylvan Esso, Wilco

Jarren Blair and the soul of new Nashville

By Justin Barney

June 27, 2025

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Jarren Blair stands out as an artist on the brink of a breakout because of his talent as a writer and producer, skill as a multi-instrumentalist and his eagerness to collaborate with Nashville musicians.

Filed Under: WNXP Tagged With: Jarren Blair, Nashville Artist of the Month, Nashville music, WNXP, WNXP Nashville Artist of the Month

Listen: The Belcourt Theatre’s secret to success is good conversation

By Justin Barney

June 13, 2025

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The Belcourt Theatre has staying power. But while the arthouse theater just celebrated its 100-year anniversary, it hasn’t been an easy road to get there.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music Tagged With: Belcourt, Belcourt 100, Belcourt Theatre, The Belcourt Theatre

Thousands of Tennesseans join in nationwide protests of President Donald Trump

By Paige Pfleger, Justin BarneyandLaTonya Turner

April 5, 2025

Rain and flooding didn’t stop Tennesseans from attending the “Hands Off” protest of the Trump administration’s current policies at Centennial Park on Saturday.

Filed Under: Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: Aftyn Behn, Department of Veterans Affairs, Donald Trump, lgbtq, protest

The Indicator: Why the great vinyl shortage is over

By Justin Barney|Darian Woods~https://www.npr.org/people/724387257/darian-woods?ft=nprml&f=1242489342|Lilly Quiroz~https://www.npr.org/people/896256272/lilly-quiroz?ft=nprml&f=1242489342|Kate Concannon~https://www.npr.org/people/96342216/kate-concannon?ft=nprml&f=1242489342

April 3, 2025

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There have now been a few major vinyl booms. And unbeknownst to many, a small village in the Czech Republic has been responsible for manufacturing a large number of these albums. On today’s show, how this dominant player became a problem for its competitors in the U.S.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, Business, WNXP, WPLN News Tagged With: Planet Money, podcasts, WNXP

AEG makes its mark on Music City with its first Nashville venue, The Pinnacle

By Justin Barney

February 27, 2025

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While it can seem commonplace for another venue to open here, The Pinnacle is more than a venue; it is the physical manifestation of corporate synergy in the live music experience. And it’s a big play for AEG.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, Business, WNXP Tagged With: AEG, Live Nation, music venues, The Pinnacle, Ticketmaster

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