The Dixie Chicks

A country music group formed in 1989 in Dallas, Texas consisting of Martie Maguire on violin, Emily Robinson on Guitar, Laura Lynch, and Robin Lynn Macy. In 1995, Natalie Maines joined the group after Lynch and Macy left. The trio released hit singles like "Wide Open Spaces" and "Earl." Their CD, "Wide Open Spaces" sold over twelve million copies, making it one of the top selling albums in the United States in 1998.

The Dixie Chicks are most commonly known for Natalie Maines's comment on the War in Iraq in March of 2003 during a concert in London: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." Many americans felt betrayed by the popular music trio, and the Dixie Chicks were heavily criticized on how the comment was carried out on forign soil and in the beginning of the war in Iraq. Boycotting the group was encouraged across the nation by critics, and many former fans of The Dixie Chicks threw their memorabilia into trash cans, fire, under bulldozers to show their resentment.

The Dixie Chicks released an apology to the nation days later. George Bush, during an interview had this to say about the trio: "The Dixie Chicks are free to speak their mind. They can say what they want to say... That's the great thing about America..."

IN 2006, the Dixie Chicks returned much stronger, and with their single, "I'm Not Ready To Make Nice," which addressed the controversy in three years earlier. On June 2006, "Taking The Long Way" was released, and topped both the top pop albums chart and top country albums chart.

To this day, Maines, Maguire, and Robinson continue to stand their ground and up for their use of the First Amendment in 2003.

"Not Ready To Make Nice" by the Dixie Chicks

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

by Chinisu September 16, 2008

The Dixie Chick effect

An effect experienced by American businesses when they show support for a hot-button political issue or party, and then experience a 50% drop in business. It does not matter what the topic is or which party the business supports. Because the population of the United States is very close to being 50% liberal/50% conservative, a business that shows support one way or the other can expect to lose 50% of it's business.

The term is derived from 1990's country music band, The Dixie Chicks. Though country music tends to favor conservatives, the band members are very much liberal. In 2003, lead singer Natalie Maines voiced displeasure with the United States involvement in Iraq. Standing up for her cause was a noble thing for Maines to do, and 50% of her fans adored her even more for it. The problem is that the other 50% ditched the band for good. And even though 50% of the fans supported the crap out of her, they really weren't expected to buy their future albums TWICE or buy TWO concert tickets for one person to make up for the 50% of the fans that had left. And so it was no surprise that the band would later break up "in order to pursue other projects". And from this, businesses from large to small should learn to never take a political side if they want to keep their customers.

Me: "Hot dog! A new donut shop opened up 5 miles from us, babe!"
Wife: "They have a Trump banner in their window, we're not going."
Me: "Crap, the Dixie Chick effect."
Wife: "Don't be talking bad about my Dixie Chicks."
Me: "I'm going to go get me some donuts."

by survivalofthefittest78 May 29, 2018