airwaver, do us a favor and write with an ounce of sensibility. As for your points:
"Whether it's good or bad press, it all 'MEDIA ATTENTION and HYPE'...!!"
Uh ... were The Dixie Chicks on KMPS, The Wolf, or other country stations where they are not played, don't you think they would have sold more than 1.5 million copies? As it stands, without the media attention and hype, they have still sold 1.5 MILLION COPIES of that album. Where they have struggled is in concert sales in red state areas, and they have still done well with that album.
"Who really GIVES a rat's patootie what Dixie Chick Natalie says or feels strongly about...??
..and how do we know she really MEANT it?...."
Clear Channel clearly cared about what she stated and proceeded to ban her from their airwaves. Clear Channel also monopolizes many venues for major concerts (i.e., Whiteriver Ampitheater). John Hogan was a major contributor to the 2004 Bush campaign, and Natalie Maines' embarassment of being from the same state as Bush was a clear threat. The last thing the Bush campaign needed was three moms making it big in the morning talk show circuit, informing other stay at home moms to vote against Bush. So, they sought immediately to trash them. Natalie Maines indicated that she meant what she said (embarassed to be from the same state as the President) but she would have used different words could she say them again.
"..for all we know it could be entirely one shrewd PLOY - only to get public attention and sell music.."
The ploy must have been to attract blue state fans, and they have done a good job of that.
"Celebrities in this day and age 'CAN' afford not to give a damn about their own selves when it all comes down to actually 'SELLING' their wares - (i.e. THEMSELVES) ... You think Mel Gibson's truly unhappy with his life still after his recent scuffle with the law? ... Does Martha Stewart truly have ANY conceivable PANG of conscience now?? ... You think I'm going to rush to the cinema and pay $10 to see the new movie "Snakes on a Plane"?? >>>> NOT ON YOUR FIRELESS COOKER FOLKS!"
Uh ... (had to include the dot dot dot), none of this has anything to do with the topic of this string. But since you mentioned it (dot dot dot) Mel Gibson's net worth was estimated at 1/2 BILLION in a recent article. Who knows and frankly who cares if he is unhappy with his life, he's friggin rich. Maybe he has sold his wares (dot dot dot) with that net worth it certainly seems that he has done a lot of it. What does Martha Stewart's conscience have to do with anything? She lied under oath and went to Camp Cupcake for it. She did her time and has since done nicely. Now (dot dot dot) when did she not have a conscience?
Lastly (dot dot dot) Samuel L. Jackson is also super rich. He does not need your money anyway.