Mavenvision : Texas Radio Station Bans Madonna “Indefinitely” Following Her Women’s March Speech

A Texas radio station has a message for Madonna: Don’t preach about Trump.

Texarkana’s Hits 105 posted a message on its Facebook page alerting its listeners that they’re dumping the Material Girl’s songs “indefinitely” due to comments they found rather immaterial to being a pop star.

General Manager Terry Thomas released a statement explaining why Madonna’s tracks will no longer be among their 50 minutes of commercial-free hits from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s: “Banning all Madonna songs at HITS 105 is not a matter of politics, it’s a matter of patriotism. It just feels wrong to us to be playing Madonna songs and paying her royalties when the artist has shown un-American sentiments. If all stations playing Madonna took their lead from us, that would send a powerful economic message to Madonna.”

Specifically, the station referenced Madonna’s “f-bombs” during her Women’s March on Washington speech last Saturday and this line that’s generated plenty of controversy: “Yes, I’m angry. Yes, I am outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House.”

Madonna has since clarified the comments, writing on Instagram: “I am not a violent person, I do not promote violence and it’s important people hear and understand my speech in its entirety rather than one phrase taken wildly out of context … the only way to change things for the better is to do it with love.”

On Saturday, Madonna joined the resistance by addressing the D.C. crowd, which took to the streets in protest of Donald Trump’s inauguration. Completely within her first Amendment Rights, she told the audience of an estimated 500,000 that “it took us this horrific moment of darkness to wake the fuck up.” “Yes, I am angry,” she said. “Yes, I am outraged, Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House. But I know that this won’t change anything. We cannot fall into despair.” Madonna further clarified her comments in an Instagram post, saying her original remarks were distorted. “I am not a violent person, I do not promote violence and it’s important people hear and understand my speech in its entirety rather than one phrase taken wildly out of context,” she wrote. “My speech began with ‘I want to start a revolution of love’.” In an email written to SPIN, Terry further clarified the station’s decision:
“Given Madonna’s tremendous body of work her songs were an important part of the programming from the ’80s. “Like a Virgin,” “Lucky Star,” “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Borderline,” “Crazy For You,” “Into the Groove,” “Holiday,” “Like A Prayer,” “Open Your Heart” and “La Isla Bonita.” However, we are a local radio station and are responsive to our listeners and we felt this ban was the right thing to do and there’s precedent for this. Just think back to what happened to the Dixie Chicks on country radio.” “Madonna’s comments about ‘blowing up the White House’ are shocking to a lot of our listeners. The White House is more than just the building where the President lives, it’s a symbol of our entire democracy and the American way of life. This ban is about HITS 105 giving our listeners a place to voice their opinions and if you look at our Facebook Page you will [see] that happening. We also have a lot of private message and email responses supporting us and congratulating us for taking a stand – not just from Texarkana.” “We believe we have opened up the conversation from here in Texarkana and its spreading around across the USA and it’s an important conversation to have.”

Follow @mavenstark

Mavenvision Stock Imagery Featuring high quality, royaltie-free images available for purchase on Shutterstock

Mavenvision Stock Imagery
Mavenimagery
Mavenmantes EyeEm collection