Dixie Chicks gaining airplay
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NASHVILLE — Country radio may be ready to make nice with the Dixie Chicks.
The grudge dates back to 2003, when many country stations stopped playing the popular trio after lead singer Natalie Maines criticized President Bush.
The Chicks’ new single, “Not Ready to Make Nice,” is now in rotation in several major markets, pushing it to No. 36 on Billboard’s country singles chart after its first full week of airplay.
Wade Jessen, director of Billboard’s country charts, said the song was played at least once on 41 of the 123 country stations Billboard monitors to compile the chart, with frequent airplay in Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Minneapolis and Cleveland -- large markets that can strongly influence chart position.
Not all big cities are playing it, though. WIL-FM in St. Louis, which hasn’t had the Chicks in rotation since 2003, gave the song a trial run and decided against adding it to the playlist after listeners complained with calls and e-mails.
The group’s new album, “Taking the Long Way,” is due May 23.
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