Dixie Chicks vs. Clear Channel

 

I believe Clear Channel does not have the right to ban the airplay of Dixie Chicks or any other band that offends that company. When a company like Clear Channel controls as many radio stations as it does it can influence what many people believe. The whole point of radio is to boost album sales and get singles out to the public. Well if company that controls as much as airplay like this company does then it can influence how much that band makes, how their new album does, and if their single becomes big. Clear Channel did not respect the Dixie Chick’s Freedom of Speech rights; the Dixie Chicks had every right to make that comment about President Bush whether it was politically correct or not. It may have not been politically correct to say they were ashamed of Bush to people of a different country in that country but they still had the right to say that. When Americans say what they want it is usually ok but the Dixie Chicks are high profile Americans that when put in their position are easily scrutinized.

By banning the Dixie Chicks, Clear Channel did hurt the Dixie Chicks severely for a few years. Different Clear Channel owned radio stations across the country hosted CD burning and other forms of protest against the Dixie Chicks. This caused the Dixie Chicks to lose lots of fans and many millions of dollars. Without airtime, the Dixie Chicks album sales dropped and they quickly dropped out of the Top 40 list. If a local radio station did this it wouldn’t have the same effect but since a corporation of radio stations banned airtime of the Dixie Chicks this happened.

It took the Dixie Chicks three years to come back out and not have the majority of country music fans hating them because of what they said. They made a new album and won many Grammy awards that same year. This did not help them very well in album sales or concert ticket sales but it got them back on the map. They became respected again. No I don’t believe Clear Channel should have the authority or power to do what they did to the Dixie Chicks. It could have ended their career or any other bands career as well. They control what we listen to as it is and they really decide who has the next hit so do not give them more power than the already have. If it was single radio stations doing this it would be a different ordeal but it was one corporations that controls a huge majority of radio stations in the country.