The Chicks Haven’t Chickened Out
Ten days and counting until the Dixie Chicks make their move to get back on the map with the national release of their documentary “Shut Up and Sing”. The documentary promises all the thrills and chills of a Hollywood thriller… “lies exposed,” “truth revealed” and “conspiracy uncovered.” Since the documentary is only showing in L.A. and New York its too early to judge whether it lives up to the drama. In true Dixie Chicks form, the movie trailers are already delivering on the controversy that has followed lead singer Natalie Maines’ declaration in disdain for fellow-Texan George W. Bush in 2003. NBC and the CW (formerly the WB) have declined to air the trailers for the documentary, thus sacrificing the associated ad revenue.
According to the The Washington Post:
“Alan Wurtzel, head of standards and practices at NBC, said it is network policy not to accept ads on issues of public controversy – like abortion or the war.”
The CW Television Network (says) that the Network Does “Not have Appropriate Programming in which to Schedule this Spot”
Speculation is afoot that passively accepting the rejection may be a publicity stunt on behalf of the film distributors Weinstein & Co. (run by the shy, meek Harvey Weinstein) due to the fact that advertisers have the opportunity to work with networks to rejigger advertisements to meet network policies. Weinstein & Co. has not exercised that option as of yet. Is the trailer worthy or the airwaves? Is the passivity on point or publicity?
Former fans of the Dixie Chicks are still voicing their objections of the group, and voicing them with their dollars. The group has canceled U.S. concert dates from their recent tour due to poor ticket sales. The Chicks failed to consider the values and tastes of their core audience in 2003. Perhaps they’ll be able to crack out of their shells and get it right with the release of the new documentary.
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