Free Republic

Cowboy crooners know that more country music is sold in Los Angeles than anywhere else, a distinction on display Thursday night when singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw opened the first of three sold-out shows at the Staples Center. But Los Angeles listeners would have trouble finding Hill, McGraw or any other twangy troubadours on the radio dial: On Thursday, the city lost its last country music broadcaster when KZLA-FM (93.9), self-billed as "America's most listened-to country station," changed its format for the first time in 25 years — to a pop format focusing on beat-heavy R&B and dance tunes....

LOS ANGELES -- There is a tear in the beer of country music fans here. After more than 20 years on the air, the city's only country music station, KZLA-FM, abruptly left the air Thursday and was seamlessly replaced with the rhythmic pop of "Movin' 93.9," which plays artists such as Beyonce, Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez. KZLA's sudden and unannounced demise leaves America's two most populous cities, Los Angeles and New York, without country music stations. In Los Angeles, longtime country fans and station employees wondered at the logic of ending country radio in their city, which ranks in...

LOS ANGELES There is a tear in the beer of country music fans here. After more than 20 years on the air, the city's only country music station, KZLA-FM, abruptly left the air Thursday and was seamlessly replaced with the rhythmic pop of "Movin' 93.9," which plays artists such as Beyonce, Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez. KZLA's sudden and unannounced demise leaves America's two most populous cities, Los Angeles and New York, without country music stations. In Los Angeles, longtime country fans and station employees wondered at the logic of ending country radio in their city, which ranks in the...

A poll to freep to support playing Darryl Worley's "Have You Forgotten" anti-protester country music hit. The station manager said on KABC 790 AM that another poll will be added later today to find out if people want them to stop playing the Dixie Chicks due to their slamming our President Bush while playing a concert in London, where the lead singer said "By the way, we're ashamed our President is from Texas."