Re: Another point of view
> I hope the Dixie Chicks and do well, and hope it serves as a
> reminder to all that there can be consequences of mixing
> politics and music. Sometimes people should stick to what
> they are good at. If you are given a platform for musical
> ability, use it for music. LEt the politicians talk
> politics.
With all due respect, politics and music have gone together since this country was founded. Taking this into a broader conversation not directed at you personally, what is different now is that corporations with business before the federal government are more willing to avoid controversy with the party in power with whom they have money-making business to transact. And when the corporation or the station agrees with the political agenda, the way suddenly becomes clear for these people to -not- stick with what they are good at - programming radio stations, and instead throw their cowboy hats into the political debate. Add that to concerns about the bottom line if the local advertiser threatens to pull out and the almighty dollar becomes the ultimate arbiter of the playlist.
Cumulus and Cox are said to have ordered Dixie Chicks music totally off their stations. No local station involvement required. Let's not forget KRMD's 33,000 pound tractor which smashed Dixie Chicks CDs at a public rally (be thankful they didn't do a modern day equivalent of a Nazi book burning rally).
I certainly haven't forgotten about Clear Channel's Rally for America which mysteriously popped up in several cities around the country using the same slogans, signs, and pro-war message, despite Clear Channel's denials that this wasn't anything beyond a spontaneous coincidence by local stations that were all owned by this company. Yeah, as spontaneous as the Jack format appearing practically overnight. How many of those CC stations were still playing Dixie Chicks music while running these dog and pony war rallies?
Let musicians be musicians. If you don't like their message, don't buy their music. But if you are running a radio station that caters to the community as a whole, it's certainly not okay to tell an artist they need to stay out of one side of politics or their songs are tossed off the air, (while stations trumpet schlock pro-war songs like they are the second coming of the National Anthem) especially if, at the same time, your station is using the promo budget to rent a tractor to smash CDs and hold pro-war rallies.
> I hope the Dixie Chicks and do well, and hope it serves as a
> reminder to all that there can be consequences of mixing
> politics and music. Sometimes people should stick to what
> they are good at. If you are given a platform for musical
> ability, use it for music. LEt the politicians talk
> politics.
With all due respect, politics and music have gone together since this country was founded. Taking this into a broader conversation not directed at you personally, what is different now is that corporations with business before the federal government are more willing to avoid controversy with the party in power with whom they have money-making business to transact. And when the corporation or the station agrees with the political agenda, the way suddenly becomes clear for these people to -not- stick with what they are good at - programming radio stations, and instead throw their cowboy hats into the political debate. Add that to concerns about the bottom line if the local advertiser threatens to pull out and the almighty dollar becomes the ultimate arbiter of the playlist.
Cumulus and Cox are said to have ordered Dixie Chicks music totally off their stations. No local station involvement required. Let's not forget KRMD's 33,000 pound tractor which smashed Dixie Chicks CDs at a public rally (be thankful they didn't do a modern day equivalent of a Nazi book burning rally).
I certainly haven't forgotten about Clear Channel's Rally for America which mysteriously popped up in several cities around the country using the same slogans, signs, and pro-war message, despite Clear Channel's denials that this wasn't anything beyond a spontaneous coincidence by local stations that were all owned by this company. Yeah, as spontaneous as the Jack format appearing practically overnight. How many of those CC stations were still playing Dixie Chicks music while running these dog and pony war rallies?
Let musicians be musicians. If you don't like their message, don't buy their music. But if you are running a radio station that caters to the community as a whole, it's certainly not okay to tell an artist they need to stay out of one side of politics or their songs are tossed off the air, (while stations trumpet schlock pro-war songs like they are the second coming of the National Anthem) especially if, at the same time, your station is using the promo budget to rent a tractor to smash CDs and hold pro-war rallies.