Country Fans Anti-Anti-War
Posted: June 14, 2004 11:43 am
From the Raleigh, NC News & Observer:
http://tinylink.com/?jmNFk38Y5n
By JOHN GEROME, The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Country music artists are hardly united in their support of the war in Iraq -- but you'd never know it from listening to the radio.
While Toby Keith, Darryl Worley and Charlie Daniels have scored hits with patriotic, war-themed songs, others such as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Nanci Griffith released anti-war, or at least questioning, songs that went nowhere.
"Country radio does enough research that they understand listeners are supportive of the military in Iraq and just don't want to get involved with those songs," said John Hart, president of Nashville-based Bullseye Marketing Research.
"I work with 32 stations, and I have not seen one test any of these anti-war songs."
But the patriotic tunes that were everywhere at the beginning of the military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq have slowed. John Michael Montgomery's touching "Letters from Home" is the only current chart hit with a war theme, and it is neither an angry call to arms nor a love letter to America.
Hart believes the flag-waving songs reached a saturation point. He also says the continuing hostilities in Iraq and recent prison abuse scandal may have tempered the enthusiasm expressed early in the conflict.
"Artists are hesitant to release anything right now that they think might be overkill," Hart said.
Patriotism is a strong undercurrent to this week's Country Music Association Music Festival, which runs through Sunday in Nashville.
In addition to donating tickets to soldiers in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, CMA will also hold a reunion of entertainers who performed for troops in Iraq last December.
Liberal comedian and author Al Franken said the backlash against the Dixie Chicks after lead singer Natalie Maines criticized President Bush had "a chilling effect on what people felt they could or couldn't say" in country music.
"And that's too bad," Franken said. "I think people should be free to express their politics."
Worley, too, cited the Dixie Chicks' incident.
"They made a pretty strong statement about the president, and we haven't heard much of them on country radio either. There is a silent majority in this country, and it is a whole lot stronger than people might think."
Country artists are regarded as more conservative than those in other genres, but there are exceptions. Alt-country icons Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Rosanne Cash and Lucinda Williams lent their names to a petition by the protest group Musicians United to Win Without War. Respected songwriters Rodney Crowell and The Mavericks' Raul Malo have been frank about their opposition to the president. A new group called the Music Row Democrats formed this year to give a political voice to country songwriters, musicians, producers and record executives.
Still, the few country songs that have express reservations about Iraq have failed to click.
Market researcher Hart thinks that is because of the conservative tilt of country audiences.
"I've been in country music since 1972, and I think every conflict is that way," said Hart, a Vietnam veteran. "Every time we bomb somebody it's 'Hell yeah!' Let's kick their ... ' That's where country music is coming from."
http://tinylink.com/?jmNFk38Y5n
By JOHN GEROME, The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Country music artists are hardly united in their support of the war in Iraq -- but you'd never know it from listening to the radio.
While Toby Keith, Darryl Worley and Charlie Daniels have scored hits with patriotic, war-themed songs, others such as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Nanci Griffith released anti-war, or at least questioning, songs that went nowhere.
"Country radio does enough research that they understand listeners are supportive of the military in Iraq and just don't want to get involved with those songs," said John Hart, president of Nashville-based Bullseye Marketing Research.
"I work with 32 stations, and I have not seen one test any of these anti-war songs."
But the patriotic tunes that were everywhere at the beginning of the military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq have slowed. John Michael Montgomery's touching "Letters from Home" is the only current chart hit with a war theme, and it is neither an angry call to arms nor a love letter to America.
Hart believes the flag-waving songs reached a saturation point. He also says the continuing hostilities in Iraq and recent prison abuse scandal may have tempered the enthusiasm expressed early in the conflict.
"Artists are hesitant to release anything right now that they think might be overkill," Hart said.
Patriotism is a strong undercurrent to this week's Country Music Association Music Festival, which runs through Sunday in Nashville.
In addition to donating tickets to soldiers in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, CMA will also hold a reunion of entertainers who performed for troops in Iraq last December.
Liberal comedian and author Al Franken said the backlash against the Dixie Chicks after lead singer Natalie Maines criticized President Bush had "a chilling effect on what people felt they could or couldn't say" in country music.
"And that's too bad," Franken said. "I think people should be free to express their politics."
Worley, too, cited the Dixie Chicks' incident.
"They made a pretty strong statement about the president, and we haven't heard much of them on country radio either. There is a silent majority in this country, and it is a whole lot stronger than people might think."
Country artists are regarded as more conservative than those in other genres, but there are exceptions. Alt-country icons Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Rosanne Cash and Lucinda Williams lent their names to a petition by the protest group Musicians United to Win Without War. Respected songwriters Rodney Crowell and The Mavericks' Raul Malo have been frank about their opposition to the president. A new group called the Music Row Democrats formed this year to give a political voice to country songwriters, musicians, producers and record executives.
Still, the few country songs that have express reservations about Iraq have failed to click.
Market researcher Hart thinks that is because of the conservative tilt of country audiences.
"I've been in country music since 1972, and I think every conflict is that way," said Hart, a Vietnam veteran. "Every time we bomb somebody it's 'Hell yeah!' Let's kick their ... ' That's where country music is coming from."
