Dixie Chicks plucked from playlist Radio station responds to callers angry about singer's comments

Whittier Daily News, CA ^ | March 16, 2003 | Rick Mortensen

[FairOpinion]

Inland Empire country music radio station K-FROG has taken all songs by Texas-based group the Dixie Chicks out of its play rotation.

K-FROG management said the decision, made Friday afternoon, came in response to listeners' complaints about comments by Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines at a concert in London on Monday night.

K-FROG, 95.1 FM, is one of 25 country stations owned by Infinity Broadcasting, a subsidiary of multimedia giant Viacom. In a conference call Thursday, Infinity stations across the country reported similar reactions, including listeners burning Dixie Chicks CDs in Kansas City.

When a Dixie Chicks song comes up on K-FROG's playlist which is determined in advance by Infinity the station will instead play a patriotic country song such as Alan Jackson's "Where Were You' or Toby Keith's angry "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue.' Maines roiled K-FROG listeners early last year with her criticism of the tone of the Keith tune.

[FairOpinion]

Good for K-FROG.

I hope listeners of other stations let their feelings be known and stations will listen to their listener, as K-FROG had.

[The Wizard]

good for them

[doug from upland]

That is a station in my area. Good for them.

[Paleo Conservative]

K-FROG?

Perhaps they need to change their call letters.

[nonliberal]

K-FROG

French radio?

[T Lady]

A radio station with guts--unlike the other station owned by Pacifica Radio.

...Although I'm not a big fan of Country music,I believe Maines should have just kept her stupid opinions to herself--not the sort of thing to say to a fan base that voted 2-1 for George W. Bush.

-Regards, T.

[Poser]

Natalie must be *really* stupid. I'm trying to imagine more than 10% of country music listeners being anti-American or in favor of bad-mouthing the POTUS on foreign soil.

She has probably put an end to her country music career.

The Chicks can't give a concert anywhere but San Francisco. They would be booed off the stage.

[happygrl]

Perhaps they need to change their call letters.

LOL, these country fans would be the last to make the connection with the French, but you have a point.

K-FROG is a country music station with a HUGE audience in what is called the "Inland Empire" of Southern California, that area east of Los Angeles and Orange Counties. This is San Bernardino County and Riverside County. This area has the largest number of horses in the entire state, in fact one town, Norco, has riding paths instead of sidewalks.

Good for K-FROG!

[mdittmar]

Radio stations nationwide boycotting Dixie Chicks over singer's remark

DALLAS (March 16, 2003 5:00 p.m. EST) - Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, is finding out that sometimes saying you're sorry doesn't make much of a difference. Radio stations nationwide are boycotting the Dixie Chicks, even though Maines publicly apologized for telling a London audience last Monday: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

[FairOpinion]

Poor FROGS, the French are giving them a bad name.

[mdittmar]

Here's a good old Haggard song they can fill the spot with.

Fightin'Side of Me

[Illbay]

Now THAT'S a classic song.

You can have Toby whats-his-name. Gimme Merle.

[CathyRyan]

Maybe the Chicks should get some pointers from David Hasselhoff on how to handle a european career. Their American career is now "His-tory".

[billhilly]

"K-FROG"

You say they should change their call letters? How about J-FROG or L-FROG? Does that make you feel better?

[sinkspur]

Haggard's calling this "Bush's war," too.

I'd play Toby Keith, or Tim McGraw. Merle's alcoholism has him saying some funny stuff these days.

[mdittmar]

No,No,no!!

Not the Hag!!

When,Where,Show me the proof,it can't be,my world,my world...

[mdittmar]

Is this what your talking about?

I see this as good old Hag sarcasm,read the clinton line.C'mon.

[sinkspur]

Well, I had a bad experience with Haggard in Rosenburg, Texas. I was announcing a rodeo, and he was the featured performer after the rodeo. I had to introduce him. He was so drunk before the show that two of his hacks had to prop him up to get him on the stage.

He played for 30 minutes, then went back to his bus.

Merle Haggard is a common drunk, and needs to get some help.

It's embarrassing to watch this great singer kill himself in a whiskey glass.

[mdittmar]

Well,that's "old" country,Hank Sr.,Hank Jr.,"No Show Jones",Willie,Waylon.

Did a few searches,the Hag has gone of the deep end.

He's not so much pro-liberal as he is pro-drugs and booze.

Kinda sad to see.

I'll be consistent,bought my last Hag CD.

I'll miss ya Merle,one more for the road.

I Threw Away The Rose

[petitfour]

Isn't Merle dead?