For over 24 years, Leslie Rouffe has helped drive the success of Americana and Triple A radio promotions company, Songlines. With the impending retirement of the firm’s founder, Sean Coakley, Rouffe is poised to continue her deeply passionate and personal approach to Americana radio promotion with the launch of her new Nashville-based, Rouffe Co. on January 1, 2024.

“Songlines is thirty years old and I was so lucky to have worked with Leslie for twenty-four of them. Because of her musical smarts and never-say-die tenacity we were able to help artists reach their peaks and for our friends at radio to grow their audiences. She is the best at what she does and I am honored to call her my friend.” (Sean Coakley)

Relentless in her pursuit to garner radio spins for a wide variety of Americana acts from legends to newcomers, Rouffe has scored dozens of Number One records for iconic artists including Rodney Crowell, Molly Tuttle, Josh Ritter Rosanne Cash, Merle Haggard, Solomon Burke, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Guy Clark and Lucinda Williams. Her expertise and enthusiastic approach to every new project has also been at the forefront of the breakout success of Brandy Clark, Sturgill Simpson, Hayes Carll, Nickel Creek, Jade Bird, S.G. Goodman, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sierra Ferrell and Mike Farris, among others.

“With every song I promote, I’m honored to connect the people and the story behind that song to those who broadcast it to fans around the world,” says Rouffe. “I pursue radio play with passion, tenacity and integrity, creativity and good humor. My years of experience means solid relationships, a successful track record, and a keen understanding of a constantly evolving industry.” Rouffe’s industry peers, and artists she has shepherded to success, vouch for her attention to detail, her business instincts and the unbridled enthusiasm she has always brought to each new project. Ultimately, I’m here for the music and the creators. I want to hear your song on Americana radio.”

Steve Gardner, former Promotions Director for Sugar Hill Records sums up Rouffe’s unique approach, “Leslie has the charisma of movie star, the tenacity of a bulldog, and the kindness of your own mother.” It’s the latter of those exemplary qualities which Rouffe has especially brought forth for hugely successful projects bolstering social justice from legendary artists Mavis Staples and Billy Bragg.

Born and raised in Boston, Leslie Rouffe accumulated a wide array of experience in promotion, sales and marketing prior to her years in the Radio Promotion Department at Rounder Records. While at Rounder, Rouffe garnered honors as Gavin Americana Record Label Promotion Person of the Year from 1996 to 1999, encompassing all four years of her Rounder tenure. Among her significant achievements at the label was quarterbacking the radio promotion campaign for Susan Tedeschi, whose gold-certified debut album, Just Won’t Burn, earned Tedeschi a 1999 Grammy nomination as New Artist of the Year. In 2000, her first year at Songlines, Rouffe was honored as Gavin Americana Independent Promotion Person of the Year. Leslie Rouffe is also a founding member of the Americana Music Association.

Of a more personal nature, Rouffe’s compassion for, and dedication to, animal welfare led to her founding Music City Animal Advocates, a Nashville-based organization that worked to help change policies and procedures at local animal shelters. Her late canine companions include Pogo – and Peaches, a “failed” foster who would later become her longtime “promo pup,” and was among many she fostered through Emmylou Harris’s non-profit rescue organization, Bonaparte’s Retreat. Rouffe currently shares her office space and home with “promotional support animals” – and reigning cat and dog – O’Brien and Hattie.

From bona fide legends including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn and future Americana mainstays Alison Krauss, Margo Price, Paul Thorn and Hiss Golden Messenger, Leslie Rouffe continues to advocate for the best and brightest in Americana.

Joining Leslie Rouffe in the new venture is Trevor Scott who will be continuing his role in helping to arrange in-studios, sessions and interviews.

Rouffe Co. has already hit the ground running and will usher in 2024 laser-focused on radio-ready new releases from Americana icons, newcomers and everyone in between. Her well-established track record speaks for itself, but this new chapter will no doubt prove the best is yet to come.

“When Leslie Rouffe comes on board for a radio campaign, what you get is integrity and intention,” says Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls. “She only works the songs she believes in, and that translates to the stations when she talks to them. She’s smart about strategy but still the music comes first. It’s radio promotion with heart and soul.”