Dixie Chicks Return to No. 1 on Charts [Disgusting feminist herd.]

Associated Press by way of Forbes ^ | 31MAY06 | JOHN GEROME

[familyop]

The Dixie Chicks appear to be more popular than the president these days. President Bush's approval rating has plummeted, but the Chicks are on top of the pop and country charts with their first album since publicly criticizing Bush three years ago.

They did it without the support of country radio, which largely ignored the Dixie Chicks after lead singer Natalie Maines told a London audience in 2003 that the group was ashamed Bush was from their home state of Texas.

The new album, "Taking the Long Way," took the No. 1 spot Wednesday on the country albums chart and the Billboard 200 overall chart - which are based on sales rather than radio airplay - with 526,000 units sold in its first week.

For the year, the Chicks' first-week showing is behind only Rascal Flatts' "Me and My Gang" (722,000 units), according to Wade Jessen, director of Billboard's country charts.

Jessen said the strong sales figures may show that hardcore country fans are not as bothered by the controversy as many in the music industry thought, or simply that the group is attracting a broader audience.

"There also might be a certain amount of support that may have been thrown their way by folks who are a little more liberal and that maybe never bought a country album in their lives but want to show their support," he said.

The new album hit stores May 23 amid a flurry of media appearances (including a Time magazine cover story) and its first-week sales are the trio's best since "Home" sold 780,000 units in its first week of release in September 2002.

First-week sales on "Taking the Long Way" were better than Chicks' longtime nemesis Toby Keith, whose latest album, "White Trash With Money," sold 330,000. Tim McGraw's "Greatest Hits Vol. 2: Reflected" sold 242,000.

The new album's first single, "Not Ready to Make Nice," came out in March and stalled at No. 36 on Billboard's country songs chart. It did slightly better on the adult contemporary singles chart, peaking at No. 32.

The song was co-written by the trio and addresses the controversy head on, with Maines singing in the chorus, "I'm not ready to make nice. I'm not ready to back down. I'm still mad as hell and I don't have time to go round and round and round."

The latest single, a more conventional song called "Everybody Knows," reached No. 48.

The group did not respond Wednesday to a request for an interview.

In January Maines told Entertainment Weekly magazine that she was disappointed with country music and that she's "pretty much done" with the genre.

Jessen suspects that most country stations have already made up their minds about the Chicks' new album and probably won't come on board even if sales remain brisk.

For a lot of programmers, the group is still too polarizing.

"Programmers are directly or indirectly responsible for the health of the bottom line, and if anything happens that distracts from that in the way they run their business, they won't deal with it," Jessen said.

Ken Boesen, program director at WPOC in Baltimore, said his station played "Not Ready to Make Nice" a few times, but never added it to the playlist.

"Regardless of whether country radio plays them or not, they're going to sell," Boesen said. "There are too many ways for people to hear about and get new music these days."

[familyop]

Quite a few country music players have voiced their opinions against defense of our country. More denials follow.

[sine_nomine]

They are the 21st century version of the hula hoop. Soon people will say, "The what?"

[capt. norm]

The Billboard charts have been bought and paid for for years.

Enough money falls into the right hands and you're number one.

But that is old news.

[Para-Ord.45]

Who is buying their crap !?

I don`t believe it`s individual sales,can`t be.

[NinoFan]

The Dixie Chicks appear to be more popular than the president these days. President Bush's approval rating has plummeted, but the Chicks are on top of the pop

Apples and oranges. Typical media - devoid of any mathematical reasoning ability.

[kinoxi]

they saw what publicity people(creatures) like sheehan were getting and figured correctly that it was easier than exercising any innate talent they might have had

[Thrusher]

The new album, "Taking the Long Way," took the No. 1 spot Wednesday on the country albums chart and the Billboard 200 overall chart - which are based on sales rather than radio airplay - with 526,000 units sold in its first week.

500,000 units were delivered to the DNC headquarters and remain unopened in a storeroom somewhere.

[Perdogg]

Their 15 minutes have long pasted, I don't think people should really give them any attention.

[avg_freeper]

"The Billboard charts have been bought and paid for for years."

That doesn't change the fact that a whole lot of country music listeners are buying their trash. Look at the record sales.

[cowboyway]

"Whew! I don't know why I was so nervous about hosting this show. If the Dixie Chicks can sing with their foot in their mouth, I can host this thing!"

Reba McIntire on the ACM awards

[Mikey_1962]

If it means anything, they have never been #1 with me ever.

Besides, If it were your cause, who could ever write write a better anti-war song than Country Joe......


(Actually, the Chicks might want to check with Joe about career opportunities when the war ends...)

[RDTF]

who is buying this crap? I don't know any country music fans that will touch it - think about the market they reach. The record co is probably buying them up and taking a loss for the publicity.

[Revolting cat!]

Chubby Chicker and the Twisted Sisters!

[speed_addiction]

For all intents and purposes, the Dixe Chicks were DUed. Many liberals bought their album solely because the fat one of the group bashed the President. Few of these people were Country Music or even Dixie Chick fans and probably have not even listened to the CD anyway.

When the Chicks start touring, which where the true measure of their popularity will be measured they will see what is really up.


What We Are About To Do Here Is What The Good Lord Would Call A Cleansing of the Wicked. I Call It A Good Old Fashioned Texas Ass Kicking.

[tallhappy]

The record co is probably buying them up and taking a loss for the publicity.

[TheCrusader]

So many American and European performers continue to prove that musical talent doesn't equal brains or common sense. They are all pretty much anchorless pagans who think that blaming America or trashing conservative values is a road to 'finding themselves' and gives them a reason to live.

In WWII the performers were tripping over themselves trying to get overseas and perform for the troops and boost their morale. Modern performers are scum, that's why my radio is never on, I need to choose what I liseten to and it sure isn't the garbage that passes itself off as "music" today.

[lormand]

Prior to this release, they were on the cover of Time, on the Today show, Anus in the Morning, Larry King Alive, etc, etc.

Any wonder?

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Our morning talk show host, Jim Quinn, had an interesting take on this. He used to be program director for several music stations, and understands how the business works. The record company cuts a deal with a number of distributors--offers them a discount on the CDs if they accept them in large volume--and ships them out to promote the record. These are then reported as sales (even though they were bought by a distributor and not individuals) to Billboard. They're hoping that hearing the album "hits #1" on Billboard spurs people to actually buy the CD from the distributor.

[capt. norm]

That's ok, the stats will catch up with them. This is still early in the game and big bucks are being spent to push this in every way imaginable.

Let them waste their money and watch how this plays out.

[ladyinred]

I heard some idiot on the radio yesterday encouraging people to support and buy the Dixie Chicks records. He said they have the courage to speak out about this unlawful war and should be rewarded as such. This is the most sickening thing to me. I wonder what it will take to wake up this nation? Perhaps it is too late.

[hkp123]

I guess I have too much time to even respond to this. Give me another beer

[RDTF]

betcha

[Logical me]

Really a farst. The liberal just wanted to prove a point and the bought the CD by the hundreds of thousands. What a joke. Oh, that's right, that is how they get votes. A few hundreds of packs of cigarettes, etc, etc, etc.

[Unmarked Package]

"There also might be a certain amount of support that may have been thrown their way by folks who are a little more liberal and that maybe never bought a country album in their lives but want to show their support," he said.

Of all the possible explanations for the success of the album, this one is most plausible in my opinion. I enjoy country music occasionally, but I won't even give the Dixie Chicks a free play on Yahoo Music, let alone spend real money for their stuff.

[MarkeyD]

My clock radio is set to a country station. They are doing whatever they can to NOT have people buy the Chicks. The report and trash everything they say.

[GoforBroke]

A few months ago I was walking through the parking lot where I work and saw a Dixie Chick CD cover and CD in the rear window of a fellow employee. Both were melted and distorted from the sun.

[lonedawg]

Same idiotcrats bought this $hit that bought Hillarys book!!!!!

[L98Fiero]

If enough people call radio stations and ask them to play the Chicks, they will. Guess what? Nobody is calling. These sales numbers are manipulated to make the record seem "hot" in the hopes of selling to actual individual consumers.

CNN did a spot on them today that lasted about 15 minutes. Just doing their part to further liberal causes. Same with ABC and their "special". Curious to see the ratings of that "special".

[Uncle Meat]

Since they want to be so PC,they better drop the word Dixie from their name.If they were Pro-Bush,I'm sure they'd be villified for it from the narrow minded media.

[gathersnomoss]

Considering the fact that the two parties are now one the Chicks could be singing the anthem of the future. I wish them well.

We need a Conservative party now.

[familyop]

This thread has 558+ views as of about a minute ago, and it's not even in the sidebar. In comparison to news about the War on Terror, the Dixie Chicks issue is very popular.

[R.W.Ratikal]

I never heard of the Dixie Chicks before they slandered America and became famous. I never could figure out why such a fuss over what they said. The opinion they hold of President Bush, or anything else, is unimportant.

I don't listen to their music. It's not because of their politics but because their music, like all hillbilly music, is so bad.

[crazyhorse691]

I call BS on this article. Somebody is trying so hard to make the DixieTricks appear highly successful country singers after they have already said that they aren't country and never really were.

[familyop]

"Considering the fact that the two parties are now one, the Chicks could be singing the anthem of the future. I wish them well."

I agree very much. Most of my neighbors are country music fans, and most of them are from northern Texas (and therefore, originally from all over the southeast and Midwest). They complain that "Iran is a sovereign State, and we have nuclear weapons. So...?"

It's really saddening to see where our country is going. Right now, this Dixie Chicks thread has "627+ views," and it's not even in the sidebar! ...disgusting!

[A CA Guy]

The liberals that want to support them will do so the first week or two, then they will drop like a rock IMO.

[vetvetdoug]

I'm having a real bad day. The Ditsie Chicks are on the cover of Time, they have been on GMA and Larry King, they are being highlighted by every news outlet there is and their new record is #1 on Billboard, my Marines are being accused of war crimes, my President's popularity is sunk, Iran is a fixin' to nuke us and the world has their finger up their butts, Iraq and Afghanistan are reverting back to rag head Koran principles. I know it can get worse, but please don't!!

[Vision]

"There is nothing wrong with America that Americans can't fix"- Reagan

[DAC22]

The Dixie Chicks = the Dems new Cindy Sheehan

[hunter112]

I figure that all the money going to buy recordings of their whinings is money NOT going to Rat political campaigns.

[heights]

[A CA Guy]

You are right, and I think there will be just so much patronage of their music before they give it up.

[tflabo]

When the Ditsy Chits steered the attention away from their music and toward their political views they blundered bigtime. Not wise to alienate fans....I used to like the music but now it's tainted when I hear it. They dont get my $$ and don't give a rats behind how the MSM pushes their agenda. Let them Chits lick Bruce Springsteens heels.

[cincinnati65]

Vote for Hillary and get your FREE Dixie Chicks CD......

Doesn't seem to work well with the constituancy, now does it?

[oceanview]

read the comments on ITunes - the buyers are simply making a political statement.

[ChiMark]

Name TIME magazine too. I don't read the rag but did happen to see it at the doctors office. I guess it's a watershed moment for the elite New York media to curry favot with a country music group.

[Chode]

[ark_girl]

It's ironic. They're spending big bucks to effectively get the word out that they hate anyone who would be the typical person who would like their kind of music. They're not advertising how good the music is. They're advertising how much disdain they have for their fans. Makes no sense to me unless they're looking for more of a masochistic audience with low self-esteem or something.

[Hildy]

I have never seen the MSM push an album like their pushing this one. It is so over the top obvious. It makes me want to cry.

[Hildy]

The proof will be when they go on tour...people may spend $12 on a CD to make a statement, but I doubt they'll shell out $50 for a ticket for a statement. However, we'll see.

[Revolting cat!]

All the above explanations are plausible. Here's another one.

The boycott ain't working. The same people who are "boycotting Hollywood" and then rush to put down $9 per a flea-bitten sticky seat to watch The D'uh Code among ringing cellphones, are now shelling out $13.99 to buy the Chickies' CD, and for the same reason: everybody else (they think) is doing it, don't wanna get left out. ('Course, it goes withut saying no one here went to see the stupid movie or bought the CD.)

I'm still wating for those who were arguing that it was only the protests and reactions that made The D'uh Code popular to show us some consistency and apply the same wisdom to the Ditzies.

Finally, I don't recall a recent example of such successful promotion of a recording artist in the news media. The Chicks on 60 Minutes, on the cover of TIME? Hey, what's the news? As usual in cases of manufactured news, the real news is behind the scenes. And behind the scenes there must have been a lot of big money commitments from Sony and their partners to the execs at the news outlets. Politics, me thinks, had nothing to do with it. This came down from the corporate and the schmucks on payroll in the editorial had to come up with a convenient excuse for themselves and an angle to present the story. Why not another Bush hater like Neil Young and his new album, or somebody else releasing a new album? No, this is money talking. The lefties like Ben Bagdikian are correct in saying that the media serve mainly the corporations and work to defend the status quo. And suckers out there follow the fashion and buy whatthey're told, so as to not be left out. Gotta feel connected!