Williams slams industry
Folk artist Dar Williams slams entertainment industry for suppressing dissent.
April 18, 2003
Dar Williams says there's a reason we never hear antiwar songs on the radio and hear only prowar songs like Darryl Worley's "Have You Forgotten" and Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue."
The folk music star says there's too much money at stake for the corporations running the music industry to allow that kind of controversy.
She said that while musicians made political statements during the Vietnam War, today's entertainment business focuses more than ever on "keeping things uncluttered and uncontroversial," at least politically.
Williams, who plays the 9:30 Club in Washington tonight, seems to have a point.
Even as powerful and usually defiant an artist as Madonna felt compelled to pull an antiwar video from MTV this month.
The video for her new single, "American Life," was yanked just hours after being released because it showed the horror of war.
In a statement, Madonna said: "It was filmed before the war started and I do not believe it is appropriate to air it at this time."
The Web site The Drudge Report said the video is "the most shocking antiwar, anti-Bush statement yet to come from the show business industry," complete with images of Iraqi children and bloody limbs."
Madonna's new album is due April 22.
Talking generally about the lack of representation of views opposing the war, Williams blamed "a very placating media" that presents only "soothing voices."
She said that the Dixie Chicks have "paid a price" for Natalie Maines' statement against President Bush, despite Maines' apology.
"The thing that floats a lot of musical careers is money," Williams said.
Williams, who runs her own independent label, said the reaction to Maines' statement was "hypocritical."
"I think even a lot of Republicans have said they don't find George Bush to be their preferred figurehead," she said.
She said she knows a lot of songwriters who are doing antiwar songs, but that none have access to the corporate support necessary to get wide exposure.
Williams said small labels like hers represent the music industry today, while big ones represent the entertainment industry.
"And the entertainment industry is cross-marketed with films, radio, hotels and NASCAR," Williams said.
She said "the business of making music first" was the reason there was more freedom of expression for artists in the war years of the 1960s and '70s.
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