Local country radio sours on Chicks CD

Boston's lone country music radio station WKLB-FM/Country 99.5 so far is ignoring the first two singles from the Dixie Chicks' brand new CD "Taking the Long Way" according to a news report on CBS4 News this week. WKLB isn't even paying attention to their summer tour by omitting their July 29th stop at TD Banknorth Garden on its concert section of its website. First album from the Chicks since their George W. Bush brouhaha in 2003 was released this past Tuesday(5/23).

First single, "Not Ready to Make Nice" which directly addresses the Bush situation, cracked the Billboard's Hot Country Top 100 at #36 in its first week of release but quickly dropped; the second single "Everybody Knows" is faring much worse at #48. Granted, The Dixie Chicks' latest effort is geared toward an audience different from the one on which they built their career so it would be logical for their new music to find home under a non-country format somewhere else on the local dial. However, according to Mediabase Music Info Systems, a service which keeps track of radio station playlists, no Boston area stations — country, adult contemporary, pop or rock — claim to be playing any of the trio's new music.

According to industry reports, nationally, "Taking the Long Way" CD will debut at #1 next week nevertheless. Sales projections, which started below 300,000, now are topping 400,000, and big-box retailers such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy reportedly were selling out of their on-hand stock.

First single, "Not Ready to Make Nice" which directly addresses the Bush situation

I could have sworn these people have been telling their critics to "get over it". So, why can't they take their own advice?

When you've got the musical chops, no one will care about your politics. It's when you've become enamored of your fame with the Mikey Moore set so you are applauded for your subject matter and not your execution that you should step back and see who really needs to "get over it".

found online:

Letter from Navy pilot LT Layne McDowell to Dixie Chicks
From radio station website in Lubbock, home of the Dixie Chicks aired 3/15/03

An open letter to the Dixie Chicks:

Earlier this week, while performing in London, you stated that you were ashamed that our President is from your home state. I wonder if you realized how many Americans would be listening. This American was listening. This Texan is ashamed that you come from my state. I serve my country as an officer in the United States Navy. Specifically, I fly F-14 Tomcats off carriers around the world, executing the missions that preserve the very freedom you claim to exercise. I have proudly fought for my country in the skies over Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan without regret.

Though I may disagree wholeheartedly with your comments, I will defend to the death your right to say them, in America. But for you to travel to a foreign land and publicly criticize our Commander in Chief is cowardice behavior. Would you have so willingly made those comments while performing for a patriotic, flag-waving crowd of Texans in Lubbock. I would imagine not. How dare you pocket profits off songs about soldiers, their deaths and patriotism while criticizing their Commander in Chief abroad, even while they prepare to give their lives to ensure your own freedom of speech. Please ask yourself, what have you done to deserve that sacrifice?

Do not try to justify your comments by claiming that you made them only because you care about innocent lives. Never once in our history have we committed troops to war for the purpose of taking innocent lives. We do it to protect innocent lives, even yours. If the world leaders of the late 1930's had the vision and courage of our present Commander in Chief, perhaps the evil men who caused the death of millions in WWII would have never had the opportunity to harm a soul. The potential loss of millions of lives in the future at the hands of today's evil men necessitate action.

In a separate correspondence, I am returning to you each and every Dixie Chicks CD and cassette that I have ever purchased. Never again will I allow my funds to support your behavior. All you have done is to add your name to a growing list of American "Celebrities" who have failed to realize that they have obtained their successes on the backs of the American blue-collar workers such as our servicemen and women.

To Natalie Maines: This Texan, this AMERICAN, will continue to risk his life to guarantee your freedoms. What will you do to deserve it?

I kinda like the idea that the Ditzy Clucks new CD will debut at #1, as that will make the fall so much greater. I'm guessing 32 ft/sec/sec - the speed at which traitors & cowards fall when they commit suicide. Now, that's something I would pay to see them do.

I suspect this CD will be the final one. What a waste of plastic. The producer is sure an optimist!

You Texans out there need to press your pols for a legislative resolution to revoke Texas citizenship for these egg layers. Something along the lines of "get the H@LL outa Texas, & don't come back!"

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