Oklahoma’s KYKC country music radio station has come under fire from Beyoncé fans after initially refusing to play one of her newest songs, “Texas Hold Em.”
The controversy began when a man shared on social media that he had requested the song from the station and received an email stating that they do not play Beyoncé. This sparked outrage among the singer’s loyal fan base, with many accusing the station of discrimination and calling for it to be held accountable. However, the station has since released a statement clarifying its stance and apologizing for the misunderstanding.
The initial post, which went viral on Tuesday, shared screenshots of the email response the man received from KYKC. The email stated, “We do not play Beyoncé on KYKC as we are a country music station.” Along with the screenshots, the user tagged the popular Beyoncé fan account and added, “This station needs to be held accountable for their blatant racism and discrimination against Beyoncé.” The post quickly gained traction online, with fans rallying behind the singer and condemning the station’s actions.
In response to the backlash, the station’s general manager, Roger Harris, released a statement on Wednesday clarifying the situation. According to Harris, the initial response was a misunderstanding, and the station does not typically play Beyoncé or other non-country artists.
He explained, “We initially refused to play it in the same manner if someone requested us to play the Rolling Stones on our country station. Fact is we play Beyoncé on TWO of our other stations and love her … she is an icon.”
Harris went on to explain that the station had not played the song because they were not aware of it and did not have a copy. However, after receiving multiple requests, they decided to obtain the song and add it to their rotation. “Truthfully, normally we would usually wait a while to see how the song performs on the charts and on bigger country stations than ours, as we are just the little guys,” Harris stated. “But … finally we got our hands on it, and based on the fan support, we decided to air it.”
The station also responded to comments on its Facebook account, stating that they would begin playing the song after obtaining a copy. According to the station, Beyoncé’s management team even called to thank them for their support. Harris also reiterated the station’s love for the pop singer and its dedication to its audience and supporting good music. “I have always just wanted to play any music if it was ‘good,’” Harris said. “Does it help, if it’s a ‘hit’? Yes, because radio listeners do want to hear recognizable, hit songs, and we do understand it’s hard for new artists or new artists wanting to break into a new area to do that in today’s rigid typecasting of music and artists.”
However, not everyone agrees with the station’s decision to play the song. Some argue that it goes against the country music genre and that other stations should not play it. When asked about this, Harris responded, “That really is an individual question to each station because they all have different markets and different types of music that they play.” This has sparked a larger debate about the role of genre in the music industry and whether boundaries should be broken or respected.
The controversy surrounding KYKC and Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold Em” showcases the power of social media and fan support. Fans’ quick and vocal response to the station’s initial decision led to an almost immediate clarification and change of heart. Whether or not other country music stations should play the song remains up for debate and reflects a larger conversation about music genres and their boundaries.
However, it is clear that Beyoncé’s influence and impact on the music industry cannot be underestimated. As her upcoming album “Renaissance Act II” debuts on March 29, it will be interesting to see if it continues to push those boundaries and defy genre expectations.
