Speaking Freely...Or Cleverly Selling?

Was Sunday night's Dixie Chicks victory lap at the Grammy Awards a triumph of free speech or a marketing victory?

I really hadn't put a whole lot of thought into the Chicks who talked their way into radio purgatory with their comments about President Bush and the Gulf War. "I'm Not Ready To Make Nice" is now on my I-Pod--I liked Sunday's performance and got re-intrigued by the back-story.

I don't like boycotts--and, knowing the radio business, I'm guessing the "bans" on the Dixie Chicks were the product of call-out research, rather than some in the industry taking a stand against what they perceived as a slap against a Commander in Chief at war. Quality and politics aren't the barometers program directors use in deciding a song's air-worthiness. The phrase that tips it in? "It tests well." I'm guessing the Chicks didn't after what Natalie Maines had to say.

That said, I came across this guy's take on the Chicks, their song, their movie and what he thinks is their calculated effort to remain viable. Give it a read. I'd love to hear what you think: http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1171407012258&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1112188062581