Posted on 03/14/2003 5:43:10 PM PST by TLBSHOW
Dixie Chicks Pulled from Air After Bashing Bush
DALLAS (Reuters) - There are a lot worse things in country music than your wife leaving you or your dog dying. There's stations not playing your music because you done gone and said some things against the president.
Music superstars the Dixie Chicks (news - web sites) are finding out that criticizing President Bush (news - web sites)'s plans for war in Iraq (news - web sites) can cost you air play, big time.
Country stations across the United States have pulled the Chicks from playlists following reports that lead singer Natalie Maines said in a concert in London earlier this week that she was "ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."
Station managers said their decisions were prompted by calls from irate listeners who thought criticism of the president was unpatriotic.
The group, which got its start in Texas, was one of the darlings of this year's Grammy Awards. The three-woman band that blends blue grass and pop hooks has spawned legions of fans who embrace the ideals of strong women celebrated in some of the trio's songs.
One station in Kansas City, Missouri held a Dixie "chicken toss" party Friday morning, where Chick critics were encouraged to dump the group's tapes, CDs and concert tickets into trash cans.
OFF THE AIR
Houston country station KILT pulled the band's records from its playlist -- at least temporarily -- after 77 percent of people polled on its Web site said they supported the move.
"We've got them off the air for right now," said Jeff Garrison, program director at KILT, which is owned by Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting Corp.
"People are shocked. They cannot believe Texas' own have attacked the state and the president," Garrison said.
Lead singer Maines said in a statement she felt the president was ignoring the opinions of many in the United States and alienating the rest of the world by pushing for war with Iraq.
"We've been overseas for several weeks and have been reading and following the news accounts of our government's position. The anti-American sentiment that has unfolded here is astounding," Maines said.
One of the country stations in Dallas that helped champion the Chicks when they were scraping by in that city playing gigs on street corners for tips, "99.5 The Wolf," said they are listening to the listener's views but do not think it is right to immediately jump on the bandwagon and stop playing the Chicks, said program director Paul Williams.
Williams said it is too early to tell how strong a backlash may develop against the Chicks. He said the comments touched a deep nerve in Texas because they came from one of the biggest country groups to come out of the state and were directed at a president who calls Texas home.
"The listener outlash is probably bigger here than anywhere else," William said.
The Chicks have the number one country album in the United States on the Billboard charts called "Home" and the No. 1 single with "Travelin' Soldier," which is about a U.S. soldier who fought in Vietnam. (With additional reporting by Carey Gillam in Kansas City and Matt Dailey in Houston)
Hmmm, that flow of money seems to have slowed to a snail's pace. Sniff, sniff...
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...
Talk respectfully about our President in the media on our own soil, and I'll give you your due, even if you disagree. Trash him on foriegn soil and you can wash dishes for living.
Terry Dorsey, morning host, said the station is pulling the Chicks for now. The husband of one of the Chicks called in and was aghast at what Maines said.
He said "Hell, I've got to go to the store and try to live my life. Natalie should keep her mouth shut."
The Radio and Records Magazine is the place.
Most country music stations in the USA are programed by two programming services. If they pull the Dixie chick Records that leaves only the big market high power stations to play their records. A firm in Cleveland Ohio programs several large country music power houses, if they pull their records they will be off the charts. They may never get back on them.
AS far as station's thinking they can get publicity by playing their records, people in their audience area should call local sponsors and tell them they will boycott their firm as long as they advertise on the station playing Dixie Chick records. All it takes is a sponsor or two calling the station saying pull my spots or the Dixie Chicks records... your choice, the Chicks will be history.
Here is their website, has request lines and on left hand menu, click on "email us" & it will take you to a page with about 10 people at the staion you can email.
www.995thewolf.com
Program Manager: pwilliams@dfwradio.com
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