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June 28, 2006
Dixie Chicks Million Dollars Declined
by Jack Lee
The Dixie Chick's just never quite recovered after ripping on Bush and their country while on a European tour in 03. They tried to smooth things over when they returned to the States and a lot of angry, patriotic country western fans took them to task! They tried to make amends by offering up an apology of sorts, but that flopped. Many of their old fans didn't relate to them anymore and this loss could not be made up by the new fans they picked up with their anti-USA comments.
Dismal concert attendance and slow record sales prompted the Chicks to seek creative ways to ingratiate themselves back in with their old fans, but nothing seemed to work, not even posing nude on a magazine cover. Enter Hurricane Katrina, this disaster was seen as just what they needed! The Dixie Chicks dangled a one million dollar carrot before the American Red Cross, if they would simply allow the Chicks to use the Red Cross name to promote their new tour. The Chicks were stunned when the Red Cross turned them down. In a press release, the Red Cross, said the offer was refused because it was conditional and it obligated the organization to endorse the Dixie Chicks . This violated their long established policy for accepting donations. The Red Cross said they would be happy to accept the donation if it was given without any obligations. When music fans learned of this attempted bribery, the plan backfired and created yet more controversy for the besieged group. Not surprisingly, the Chicks declined to make the so-called donation unconditional. Thus reinforcing in the minds of many, it was a shoddy trick for publicity.
Does it get any lower than that?
The Dixie Chicks have cancelled appearances in at least 5 major cities picks in the USA for their latest tour, starting in July. Fresno, Memphis, Tennessee, Oklahoma City and Indianapolis where advance ticket sales were disappointing, have been cancelled...maybe they should try Canada or France?
Posted by Post Scripts at June 28, 2006 08:26 PM
Comments
Not even a "million baby kisses" can help them now!
Posted by: Tina at June 28, 2006 10:20 PM
Defenders of the Dixie Chicks always claim they have the right to free speech, as if that ends the controversy. If you ask them what the Constitution actually says about freedom of speech, they are, pun intended, speechless. The Constitution orders that the government shall pass no law prohibiting freedom of speech. I am not aware of our government passing any laws to prohibit the Dixie Chicks from speaking, singing, or making fools of themselves in any fashion. What has happened is that country music fans have turned against them and don't like their music anymore, so the country stations don't play their records. That is not a law infringing on anyone's freedom of speech. That is simply an example of the market drying up and the radio stations not playing music that does not appeal to their listeners. Nothing new about that. Each station selects its music according to its target audience. You won't hear Beethoven on country radio either, and you won't hear Barry Manilow on hip-hop rap stations. You know, I am a musician and songwriter myself, but the stations don't play my music. Do you suppose my freedom of speech has been infringed?
Posted by: DB at June 29, 2006 08:54 AM
I read about this story a week ago or so. In the story I read it stated that the Dixie @#nt's are doing well on the pop charts. If I were a country artist this wouldn't come as good news. This would be kind of like Tony Stewart wrecking his car, injuring himself, not being able to drive for the rest of the season but being named Home Depots employee of the month.
Why do bad things happen to great bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, and bands like the "@#nt's" are still breathing?
Posted by: Toby Stahler at June 29, 2006 10:20 AM
interesting. Reuters reported that their latest album debut at #1 on both the billboards and on amazon sales.
Posted by: anon at July 26, 2006 09:48 AM
Yes, but with almost half the sales as there previous album. Half as many people bought this ablum is the same period as did their previous effort. Check it out...
Posted by: Jon at August 9, 2006 10:55 AM
The Dixie Chicks are making better money now than they did before. Who needs the rednecks and religous right.
Posted by: Jim at February 8, 2007 02:45 PM