A rustic music radio station in Oklahoma, KYKC, confronted backlash for denying a fan’s request to play Beyoncé’s new nation single “Texas Maintain ‘Em” — however the station’s basic manger is defending the choice.
One Beyoncé fan went viral on X after sharing an e-mail from Southern Central Oklahoma Radio Enterprises Broadcasting after she requested the brand new track.
The response states, “We don’t play Beyoncé on KYKC as we’re a rustic music station.”
Followers have been outraged by the memo, and a few of them even accused the station of “blatant racism and discrimination” in opposition to the “Single Girls” singer and claimed it must be “held accountable.”
Different followers penned their very own emails to the station about not enjoying “Texas Maintain ‘Em,” in addition to Beyoncé’s different new nation tune, “16 Carriages,” which each dropped on Tremendous Bowl Sunday.
“The refusal to play these songs raises issues concerning the station’s stance on artists of colour. Whether or not intentional or not, such motion contributes to the narrative of racial bias inside the nation group,” one fan wrote.
“They about to get it,” a 3rd fan said together with a screenshot of their e-mail grievance.
This prompted a response from S.C.O.R.E basic manger, Roger Harris, who defined that KYKC isn’t enjoying the brand new Beyoncé songs as a result of measurement of the market.
“We’re a small market station. We’re not ready to interrupt an artist or assist it that a lot, so it has to chart slightly bit greater for us so as to add it,” Harris mentioned in an announcement.
“However we love Beyoncé right here. We play her on our [other top 40 and adult hits stations] however we’re not enjoying her on our nation station but as a result of it simply got here out.”
S.C.O.R.E consists of 5 radio stations starting from FM to nation. Harris mentioned KYKC follows the traits of larger stations, so if the songs do properly on larger nation stations and the charts, there may very well be a future the place the KYKC performs Beyoncé’s two new songs.
“If any person calls and requests the Rolling Stones on that station, we’re going to say the identical factor,” he mentioned, explaining that the viral e-mail is a “commonplace response” to followers asking to play non-country artists.
All that being mentioned, KYKC seemingly changed its tune on Tuesday. The station shared an image of “Texas Maintain ‘Em” on X writing, “A number of name coming in for Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Maintain ‘Em.’ It’s developing in minutes.”
Beyoncé’s new songs will be included on “Renaissance Act II” which she introduced shall be launched on March 29.
The Beyhive is buzzing with pleasure after “Texas Maintain ‘Em” producer Killah B teased to TMZ that followers are “simply gonna have to attend and see” Beyoncé and Taylor Swift will collab on “Act II.”
“Let’s simply say [Beyoncé is] on the method of surprising the world,” he mentioned Tuesday. “I’ll let your creativeness determine what meaning.”
Some followers are additionally satisfied that Beyoncé and Woman Gaga might reunite for his or her long-awaited “Phone” sequel because the teaser trailer for “Act II” embody Yoncé driving in a yellow taxi that resembles “The Pussy Wagon” from the pop duet’s 2009 music video.