Last week I started reporting a story on a lawsuit where a semi-anonymous producer claimed he wrote the chorus to Drake's "Janice STFU." A few days after I sent a few additional questions to the producer's lawyer, he withdrew his own lawsuit. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Jonathan Bernstein
Jonathan Bernstein
@jonbern.bsky.social
author, biography of justin townes earle senior research editor at rolling stone he/him https://jonbernsteinwriting.com/
6.1K followers710 following568 posts
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
Replying to @marisakabas.bsky.social
Huge follow-up reporting to my scoop: The Guardian confirmed America Next—the conservative nonprofit founded by Bobby Jindal that was offering students $ to disrupt El-Sayed events—paid a firm registered to Tommy Teepell’s dad Timmy $250k for “canvassing and influencer marketing” against El-Sayed.
found footage from my first Kacey show. she was opening for Little Big Town. She'd released "Merry Go Round" but the debut album was coming out the next month. www.youtube.com/watch?v=s765...
If I said I once saw Kacey Musgraves play with Conor Oberst and the Felice Brothers at Mccarren Park would u believe me? www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJY-...
eye-opening read! www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/1...
Great review from @erdanton.bsky.social, and one that couldn't have been easy or fun to write. Something about this posthumous T.S. release has just felt off. www.pastemagazine.com/music/todd-s...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
What do you do when it turns out you gave birth the same week as a really wonderful country singer songwriter, and your babies are both about to turn 1? Interview them of course! Many thanks to Brit Taylor for her generosity and candor!!
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
The Scene's annual Best of Nashville issue has landed! Check out all of the 2026 readers' poll and writers' choice winners now. Illustration by Katie Turner. https://www.nashvillescene.com/bon/2026
Enormous honor. Thanks @nashvillescene.com www.nashvillescene.com/bon/2026/art...
This important and wonderful book is out today www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
Songwriter Nat Myers Has Stage IV Cancer. He Just Wants to Play His Next Show "Death didn’t give me a hug, but it winked at me a bunch,” says the blues troubadour. Interview: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Ian Noe might be my favorite songwriter of the last decade. Here's my story on the reclusive songwriter: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
Now up, my newest for @rollingstone.com: Private equity firms bought up all the big rock publishing. Now they're going after the indie labels. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
One year ago today, I left Rolling Stone and turned What's Alan Watching? into my full-time business. I'm SO grateful to everyone who's supported me. I've got a preview of what's to come, and a discount for people on the fence about signing up for a paid sub:
Brooklyn! Must-see singer-songwriter double bill next month www.eventim.us/event/margo-...
Got milkshakes and talked about what it means for your weirdo side project to suddenly become a career with Nate Amos www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
At #americanafest next week in Nashville? I'll be on a couple of panels that will be fun. Especially excited to talk about #justintownesearle & his legacy on his home turf w/ @jonbern.bsky.social C'mon by. @illinoispress.bsky.social #booksky📚 #americana #authors #altcountry #insurgentcountry
"It was as if, for some, Dolly had ceased to be Dolly and had become instead an avatar of the desire for a celebrity who was truly good." www.thenation.com/article/cult...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
Kam Franklin’s new solo record LAND OF THE NEON SUN is essential listening today! My review for @rainbowrodeo.bsky.social rainbowrodeomag.com/kam-franklin...
6 years late to this but perfect cover song choice/voice match here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iqm...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
Here are a series of essays I wrote about Dolly tied to albums at the beginning, middle and end of her vast, prolific career, if you're looking for a little themed reading. www.dontrocktheinbox.com/on-dolly-par...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
a meandering post about how country music can stop leaning into the bit www.dontrocktheinbox.com/how-nashvill...
Great @marissarmoss.bsky.social recap of a show I'm devastated to have missed! www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Tried to parse some of the *many* allusions to Phoebe Bridgers' record collection on her new album www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
The idea that this group—with this name—would have been told they couldn't make retro soul during the mid-late 2010's is mind-boggling to me. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
I profiled the Womack Sisters, who had a very hard time releasing the type of throwback soul record they wanted to make despite being, yes, the granddaughters of Sam Cooke* www.rollingstone.com/music/music-... *and the children of Womack & Womack and nieces of Bobby Womack
Released 25 years ago today. This interview w/ Welch and Rawlings on the 20th anniversary of this monumental record is still one of my all-time favorite conversations I've ever had the honor to have: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
“Hansard’s music was about embracing wonder alongside restlessness, about letting in the light alongside the dark, about trying to sort out the beauty & pain that comes with it all being too much to take.” Remembering Glen Hansard 🖤 www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
I tried to capture the magic and musicianship of Glen Hansard: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
great newport preview! www.boston.com/culture/musi...
Bunch of big bands paying tribute to a band that deserves it. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
New at No Fences Review: I go long on one of my favorite albums, Billy Bragg and Wilco's MERMAID AVENUE, on the occasion of the incredible performance I witnessed at the end of June. Please share and subscribe!
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
If you haven't, you should read @jeffgoodell.bsky.social's excellent book The Heat Will Kill You First. I don't know why I've been thinking about it a lot the past couple days ... www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
I devoted the better part of a whole chapter of my JTE biography on his close, complex friendship with David Berman; how moving to see these two books stacked side by side at @greenlightbklyn.bsky.social
"Why would we stick around, the job is done," one Knicks fan told me as we returned our rental cars.
My flight got canceled. I got hit by an egg in a drive-by. I had to take trains, planes, and automobiles. But NOTHING could stop me from seeing the Knicks on Saturday night. I wrote about the greatest sports weekend I will ever have and a strange joy we all now feel. hellgatenyc.com/knicks-fans-...
Jonathan Bernstein reposted
The Mercury is looking for a Music Section Editor to join our staff. Are you a smart, thoughtful writer filled with passion, hustle, and the desire to share your love for—and critiques of—the Portland music scene? Yes? Check out our job listing! No? Tell your friends to check out our job listing!