Posted on 05/20/2006 11:44:36 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Disappointing airplay for the first two singles from the new album by the Dixie Chicks exposes a deep -- and seemingly growing -- rift between the trio and the country radio market that helped turn the group into superstars.
"Taking the Long Way," due out May 23, is the band's first album since singer Natalie Maines sparked a major controversy in 2003 by declaring that she was ashamed to hail from the same state as fellow Texan President George W. Bush. Radio boycotts ensued, and many fans abandoned the band.
The first single, "Not Ready to Make Nice," peaked at No. 36 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, beginning its descent after just seven weeks. The second single, "Everybody Knows," is now at No. 50, down two places in its fourth week.
"Not Ready to Make Nice" performed only slightly better at adult contemporary radio, peaking at No. 32 on the AC chart and falling off after six weeks.
From the beginning of the album rollout, the Dixie Chicks were eager that their songs be worked to radio formats beyond country. The album was produced by rock veteran Rick Rubin, whose credits include the Red Hot Chili Peppers, System of a Down and Johnny Cash.
By picking the defiant "Not Ready" as the first single, they've reopened a wound that was particularly deep for country radio fans, and left many country programmers with the burning question: Why on earth would the band choose to do this?
After hearing the album, WKIS Miami program director Bob Barnett says he was "excited about the opportunity to introduce some great Chicks music to the listeners." But the group's decision to come with "Not Ready" as the lead single left him "stunned, especially in light of the fact that, when asked, programmers and consultants that listened to the project were virtually unanimous in saying we should put the politics behind us and concentrate on all this other great music we were hearing."
KUBL/KKAT Salt Lake City PD Ed Hill criticizes the song's "self-indulgent and selfish lyrics."
Barnett played the song for a week, but pulled it after listeners called to say it sounded like the Chicks were "gloating" or "rubbing our noses in it," he reports. "We didn't need to pick at the scab any longer."
He and other country programmers were upset that the group chose to launch its new album with a single that rehashed all the angst of three years ago.
The two singles have had a striking lack of impact at radio, considering the band's history. Between 1997 and 2003, it notched 14 top 10 country singles, including six No. 1 hits. In addition to eight Grammy Awards, the group has won 10 Country Music Assn. Awards and eight Academy of Country Music Awards. The trio has sold 23.4 million albums in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The Dixie Chicks and reps from their label, Columbia Records, declined to participate in this story. But -- at least as far as Maines is concerned -- the drop-off at country radio was part of its plan.
Maines was quoted in late January on entertainmentweekly.com, before the single went to country radio, saying: "For me to be in country music to begin with was not who I was ... I would be cheating myself ... to go back to something that I don't wholeheartedly believe in. So I'm pretty much done. They've shown their true colors. I like lots of country music, but as far as the industry and everything that happened ... I couldn't want to be farther away from that."
Maines also said, "I don't want people to think that me not wanting to be part of country music is any sort of revenge. It is not. It is totally me being who I am, and not wanting to compromise myself and hate my life."
At KNCI Sacramento, Calif., the Chicks' music weathered the 2003 controversy only to be pulled as a result of Maines' new Entertainment Weekly comments, coupled with poor scores in local music tests.
"When an artist says that they don't want to be a part of that industry, it made our decision a no-brainer," program director Mark Evans says. "There are too many talented new artists dying to have a song played on country radio, so I'd rather give one of them a shot."
I think I remember they were one of the stories in the last weeks on 60 minutes. I rolled past the channel rolling my eyes...
I used to really like 60 minutes in the 70s but anymore it seems to be a liberal mouthpiece for any nutjob wanting to bash anything I believe in.
Imagine if we had the same access to National TV time? sheesh.
The Dipsies should of been hired to sing the theme song to the D'uh Vinci Code movie. That would have been a perfect winning pairing!
Thanks for the words.
"Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should "
What are YOU mad about and why don't you just shut up?
A good spanking years ago would have probably cured their problem. But that would have been child abuse. Today a good spanking would probably be called foreplay!!
"I still think they will have decent sales initially..."
======
Maybe so, or maybe it will appear so, at least. But, it won't be because this ole gal spent a penny on their product, or even listened on t.v. or radio, if I can get to the control quick enough to silence them.
Love that.
Hehehehehehehehehehe!
LOL! You're already forgotten, Natalie.
Perfect pic! "I love it when a plan comes together."
Country music isnt my thing, but had the country fans let them slide it would have been a sign that the end is near.
You couldn't be more wrong. They were great. Natalie Maines has one of the greatest voices in music today. Please, please don't minimize talent because of politics. But what's happened to them is 100% their own doing. They have no home now. And nobody really cares.
"A life without danger is like a house of ill repute without the naked ladies."
-- Hannibal Smith
You're right...Tim McGraw is the next up. He wants to run for office as a Democrat. Let's see how that goes.
LOL. I did too.
You're wrong...You are so wrong. First of all...none of them are great looking...there are hundreds of better looking girls in country music. These girls had talent and they were good and that's what makes what they DID TO THEMSELVES all that much crazier. Because the totally did it to themselves. I wonder what the two sisters really think.
That would have to be one STRONG pole.
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