Radio AM to FM

Radio AM to FM: March 21, 2003

Dixie Chicks Upset Fans

Statements made by Dixie Chick Natalie Maines in England regarding the President have caused a backlash among their fans and radio stations that play their music back home.

Joel Denver's All Access (www.allaccess.com) reported Monday that Cumulus country stations across the United States would no longer play the Chicks, an order that came straight from Cumulous president John Dickey.

"It's a question of hypocrisy in my opinion," Dickey told All Access. "The Dixie Chicks have sold a lot of albums to the men and women and their families who are fighting overseas, and they need to support those men and women ... and use better judgment in their comments."

"We've never had so much negative feedback ... what Natalie Maines said is rubbing me and our listeners the wrong way."

What Maines said, to an audience in London as part of the band's European tour, was "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas," home state of the Chicks.

Maines has since apologized, though some suspect that the move is more of a way to appease their fans -- many of whom flooded country stations with angry calls and boycott threats -- rather than being heartfelt. "My remark was disrespectful," she said.

Cumulus owns 210 radio stations nationwide, although at press time I was unable to confirm how many of those play country music.

Stern Suit

Syndicated morning zookeeper Howard Stern, heard locally on KLSX (97.1 FM), is suing ABC Television, claiming that the program "Are You Hot" was stolen from a segment of his popular radio and television shows.

Filed February 13th in California Superior Court, the suit names as defendants ABC and others, including Scott Einziger, former producer of Stern's E! cable television show. Not named as a defendant but definitely worth noting: Jackie "The Jokeman" Martling, formerly with the Stern show, is one of Are You Hot's writers.

Reader Request

Margaret Boyd sent an email asking for help locating recordings of an old radio mystery series. "I'm hoping you can help me. Quite a few years ago there was a series called "Night Watch" by Peter Lee, where he narrated a short mystery. I've been trying to get a hold of copies of those mysteries without success. Any suggestions?"

No, unfortunately. I did an internet search and came up empty, with the exception of another person who mentioned in a newsgroup that they too couldn't find such recordings. So I'll put the request here ... if you, dear reader, have any information regarding how to find recordings of Night Watch, please send me a note, and I'll forward it to Ms. Boyd.

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