Murder" being banned from radio!!!???

Rich Mounce · From: Dunfermline, Il

I thought everyone would like to see this article I just got...I am going to be putting it in this weeks "Country Update" but thought you would all like to see it if you have missed it!!...When are those radio people ever gonna get it!!!

George Strait/Alan Jackson Duet Causing Friction At Radio

(5/8/00, 10 a.m. ET) - The pairing of two of country music's biggest icons -- George Strait and Alan Jackson -- on a duet seems like a shoo-in for a Number One hit. In the case of the song "Murder On Music Row," however, the outcome is quite the opposite. The subject matter of the song deals with the death of traditional country music at the hands of today's radio programmers, who opt for the more pop-sounding tunes of Shania Twain and Faith Hill, to name a few.
Although the song, which was performed live on the recent Academy of Country Music Awards, has not officially been released as a single, radio has not been receptive to callers requesting airplay. Several country radio programmers echo the sentiment of KIK-FM Anaheim, California operations manager Craig Powers. "We are not going to play it and we never will," Powers told the Los Angeles Times. "It puts down today's modern country music, and that's against everything we're about."

Despite seemingly strong resistance from radio, "Murder On Music Row" has already made it into the top 40 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The song is one of two new tracks featured on Strait's newest project, Latest, Greatest, Straitest Hits.

Jackson's current single, "It Must Be Love" currently holds the Number 39 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart, while Strait's most recent single, "The Best Day," is on its way back down the charts after reaching the Number One spot.

Boomer · From: Brentwood, TN USA

Unfortunately, Craig Powers knows the truth, but would never tell the public: "Murder on Music Row" is not putting down modern country music, its putting down the perpetraters of it ... namely people like Craig Powers, who is shooting at 12-24 females for their demographics. Sadly to say, the song by George and Alan will never get past these kinds of programmers, as it makes them look bad. Best, Boomer

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I have not heard the song on the two Tampa "country music" stations. They may be playing it but I've never heard it.

I like David Frizzell's cut (with Johnny Cox) better anyway.

[This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 09 May 2000 at 04:02 AM.]

Tom Ward · From: Port Charlotte, FL 33952

Mr. Powers is entitled to his feelings and thoughts same as we are. Let us know on what day his station starts playing OUR song! Thank you Alan and George.

Ron Whitworth · From: Yuma,Ariz.USA Yeah they say it's a DRY heat !!

I have never heard it on our local "country" station here!!..I doubt if they will ever play it either..I am with Jack on the David Frizzell cut also..I love Allen & George & can't thank them enough for recording the song to put it in the limelight & get airplay; but David Frizzell's cut w/Johnny Cox on steel & the harmony(unknown female singer)will send chills down your spine!!!!!
I wore my cassette of it out & found a CD of it finally & bought that-What a song!!!!
If you love the older country-this cut is a MUST have..Ron

Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

And that, Boomer, is hitting the proverbial nail smack dab on the head!

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HagFan

David Mullis · From: Rock Hill, SC

I've heard the song on at least two of our three local country stations. I'm not sure how frequently they play it since I don't have a radio here at work. Think I'll call and request it anyway just to see what kinda of reaction I get.

David

Rich Mounce · From: Dunfermline, Il

I tried to find thee-mail addy to the station but could only find a telephone number and snail mail...We have one radio station in our area playing it...They are a traditional station...I have called on the request line at several other stations and they are not playing it...I don't listen to those stations anyway but just wanted to see what they said...One of the DJ's said it really ticked him off because the station would not get them a copy to play and were told NOT TO PLAY IT!!...

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Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

I went to www.kikfm.com. It started downloading & when it finally came up,all I got was a blank page.They,obviously,have removed it. I guess they're afraid of the "feedback"!!

I just tried again,& got some company called,"Sustema Concepts". ???????
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[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 09 May 2000 at 10:03 AM.]

Rich Mounce · From: Dunfermline, Il

Hey Smiley...The e-mail addy for thier "country station" is kikfm@aol.com..That is their request addy...*G*...

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Rich Paton · From: Santa Maria, CA.,

Perhaps the fabulous tune would have shipped @ #1, if Alan and George had washboard mid-riffs, tied their shirt tails
up under the rib cage, been coiffed with big hair-do's, and shot a video of the song?

I have heard that the CD is selling well, but without a single version, that's hard to break down as to exactly why.

I think E.T., Conway, Tennesee Ernie, and the others are all smiling from the sacret earth over it, though!

Rich Mounce · From: Dunfermline, Il

Rich...The first post I made was taken out of an entire story that was in the LA Times...Tony Brown said the song was doing fantastic and they had not put any promo on it all...Interesting article...

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Al Udeen · From: maple grove mn usa

Ron Whitworth! Where can I get a copy of David Frizzels version? Al Udeen

Tommy Minniear · From: Logansport, Indiana

I agree with Jack Stoner! David Frizzell "Nailed It"! And, it sounds like Johnny Cox put "soul", in his playing on David's version! I bought a tape copy of it at ET's Record Shop. I like George and Alan's version too. It just seemed a little more believeable, coming from an artist who has "felt the rain"!!!

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Tommy Minnier
JCH S/D10 3&4

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I've stopped listening to country radio for a while. I bought Strait's CD, though, and I like the song. Whether it gets airplay or not, a lot of people will hear it because it's on a "Greatest Hits" CD.

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Bobby Lee quasar@b0b.com gigs CDs
Sierra Session S-12 (E9), Speedy West D-10 (E9, D6),
Sierra S-8 Laptop (D13), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (D13, A6)

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Here in the Southeast area of Virginia (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, etc.) we have an AM station on 1490 called "Classic Country Gold". They're programming this tune by George and Alan every hour on the hour, 24 hours a day for the rest of this month. They've already been doing it ever since the awards. I love it!

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Have a good one! JH U-12

Boomer · From: Brentwood, TN USA

Tom, its true Craig Powers is entitled to his feelings. But I believe the responsibility of a radio station is to cater to the musical tastes of the listening area in that station's particular gendre of music, not to promote Mr. Power's personal likes and dislikes at the expense of requested material. Best, Boomer

Buddy Carter · From: Spring Grove (Chicago), IL

Mr. Powers' response reminds me of a situation I heard about back in the mid-'80s about a Chicago heavy metal station. The station was something of a surprise since no one in the local industry thought it could work, but it did. Then, the station changed hands, the new owners didn't like, understand, or care anything about the format, and promptly changed it, even though the existing format was making money. There is still a station broadcasting at that frequency, but the format has changed like the weather for the last decade and a half, and has never had a big audience like it did when the headbangers were listening. I draw this parallel simply because I believe the people running these big stations are so far removed from the format, the audience/target market, and even the profitability of the station that they really don't understand what's happening on the street, and are so busy doing the biz they don't have time to care. I honestly am not trying to slam programmers, station managers, or anyone else. I just have come to believe that everyone is using the throw-it-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks business model, and that is neither efficient nor profitable. Yet, these people can sure get offended when they are called to task by people who are more "spiritually" involved in the format. Bottom line, the stations are saying, "Go away, you're not our target market because trad. country is considered bottom feeding in the industry, and we don't want you". Just like dealing with banks if you're a small depositor. OK, I'll shut up now, before I make more people mad.