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 must have seen this in the movies 20 years ago? It was bizarre and funny. I hear that Crosby,Stills,Nash and Young will be touring this summer. $175.00 per ticket at Hershey Park in PA. That should be a real Bush Bashing time. A bunch of old left over hippies trashing America. And the idiots are going to pay for it. LOL
The pig girl doesn't look half bad in this picture. I guess air brush and a decent nose job do work
They should have followed Mariah Carey. Carey had a great comeback after a bomb of a movie and album.
Huge difference, she did not diss the President especially on foreign soil. Mariah just was going insane and needed to recoup.
You're right...Tim McGraw is the next up. He wants to run for office as a Democrat. Let's see how that goes.
Why are you upset with him wanting to run for office? I know as a democrat, but to compare him to Natalie who is a treasonous trader is a bit much. We might not be in agreement with Tim, but why vilify him. Are we supposed to hate a person because they run for democratic office. I actually thought it was very nice of him to be going over to Iraq and Afganistan to play for the troops and he also visits various military bases throughout the states. It appears he has family values. Keep in mind, I would rather him not win this race, but I refuse to hate him over it. (Unless of course he starts to bash the President overseas. Than he deserves your disgust for him, but until he proves that to me, I can't hate the guy). Sorry to upset you over this, but I am probably more fair than most on here. Have a great day.
Politics aside, there are plenty of overproduced, over-reverbed, over-chorused, over-Harmonized "hot new country" acts out there to waste your money on.
Unreal. Taking cheap shots at a musical genius (and I don't use the term loosely) who died at 22?
What a photo! I have been around women who had that attitude, but not for long.
Still waiting for all the "progressives" to put their money where their mouth is and plunk down the $$$ for Dixie Chicks CDs. After, they're both sainted upholders of the 1st Amendment......
Uh-oh...I hope it's not Heartbreaker Mike Campbell, who is one of my guitar idols.
Ugh. It is that Mike Campbell
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:xt1ibkr9fakv
When they hit the New Yorker's music review, I guess we'll know.
Show me where I vilified him. That post was in response to this one
Most liberal country music stars have the good sense to realize that their audience doesn't share their politics, and keep their politics to themselves. A few however can't help the temptation to develop "foot-in mouth" disease. Dolly Pardon almost went this route but saw the the writing on the wall and quietly dropped the liberal vent.
The post was accurate in that when a performer starts speaking liberal, he loses some of his country audience. That was all I was saying about Tim. I said "Let's see" about McGraw. Everyone's gotta stop being so defensive around here.
And by the way, I will make a bet with you that he won't run for office. That's part of the Liberal/Dem big mouth MO...name me one or two lib celebrities who actually ever did put their money where their mouth is when it comes to running for office. I would welcome any Dem celebrity who actually did run because that would mean that they'd have to debate...and we all know how that would turn out!
"On the Chicks Web site Maines writes that the song "is not just about Lubbock, but about any small, hypocritical town.""
Like any small town occupied by people like her. WHenever you point a finger there are three pointing back.
And fiddles, mandolins, and fat Chix aren't exactly acceptable in Pop music.
"On the Chicks Web site Maines writes that the song "is not just about Lubbock, but about any small, hypocritical town.""
If the plane had not taken off in a snow storm.
If Maines's parents had decided to abort.
If only.
Oh, they stopped playing country long ago, when the artists who couldn't make it in rock any longer switched over to country, and brought their rock/pop attitudes with them.
I think Garth Brooks started the whole downfall.
With all due respect to fans of *real* country musc, I always get a good laugh out of people who ooh and aah at the staging of country concerts by Garth Brooks, Shania Twain et al. They are using the same stages (round, etc.), lighting rigs, effects and video screens that rock acts used 20+ years ago. Brooks has even acknolwedged his debt to theatrical acts like Kiss.
I know all about that. I don't support her financially in any way. I just don't change the channel when she comes on, like I do with most rabid moonbat libs.
Mike Campbell's great. The fills on Boys of Summer are magical.
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