Country music stands on the war (and radio)

[Bob Nelson <raccoonradio@yahoo.com>]

A couple interesting news items about country music
artists, which also gets into radio:

--Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks,
said at a London concert, "Just so you know, we're
ashamed the President of the United States is from
Texas". As a result many country stations have been
deluged with anti-"Chicks" calls and some are banning
their music. In Maines' hometown of Lubbock, TX,
the leading country station is running a "Chicks-
free weekend" and might ban them permanently.

Maines has said she does support the troops; in
regards to the anti-Bush remark, she said:
"We've been overseas for several weeks and have been
reading and following the news accounts of our
government's position. The anti-American sentiment
that has unfolded here is astounding... 
"I feel the president is ignoring the opinions of many
in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world. My
comments were made in frustration and one of the
privileges of being an American is you are free to
voice your own point of view." 

True, but there is also freedom of choice and stations
can choose not to play a certain artist.
Surely if most of the response from listeners had
been in support of Maines' comments, you wouldn't
have this anti-Dixie-Chicks outcry.

Also: a song written during the Afghan war, "Have
You Forgotten" by Darryl Worley, is causing
controversy among country stations; it refers to
9/11 and was written during the Afghan conflict.
("Some of us are saying we don't need this war"
refers to _that_ battle and not the possible Iraq
conflict.) Country radio consultant Steve Warren
has advised stations not to play the song; not sure
how many are following his advice.