SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016 Beyonce-Dixie Chicks collab sparks a clash on social media

NASHVILLE: The surprise collaboration of Beyonce and the Dixie Chicks at the Country Music Association Awards was China’s Wanda buys Dick still rocking the music world on Thursday, but not all were impressed by the electric Clark Productions for $1 billion performance - and some country fans unleashed their anger on social media. Since the show aired Wednesday night on ABC, the CMA’s Facebook page and other social media accounts have been filled with comments about the perform- ance of Beyonce’s country-flavored song “Daddy Lessons,” which generated per- haps the most attention during the show’s big night, as the CMAs celebrated the awards’ 50th year. The Beyonce-Dixie Chicks performance plenty of attention and rave reviews, and had many gushing. Reese Witherspoon tweeted, “Loving this!” during the per- formance. But some were outraged Beyonce and the Dixie Chicks, who have been estranged from the country music world since their insult of then-President George Bush in 2003, even were allowed to perform. Some questioned the Dixie Chicks’ patriotism, while others claimed In this undated image released by that Beyonce is anti-police because she PRNewsFoto/Dick Clark Productions. Inc., shows has addressed police brutality in her the company logo. — AP music videos. hina’s Dalian Wanda Group has added another Not a country artist entertainment trophy to its stable of overseas Still others complained that Beyonce acquisitions, paying $1 billion for Dick Clark was not a country artist, although the C Productions, the TV company that produces the CMAs routinely feature non-country artists Golden Globes and the “Miss America” pageant. in collaborations, including the highly Wanda is one of China’s most important conglom- praised performance at last year’s show erates and China’s largest property developer. Its between Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton. Beyonce and the Dixie Chicks chairman, Wang Jianlin, is China’s richest man by also had plenty of supporters, with most measures, with an estimated net worth exceed- Beyonce fans leaving bee emojis, the sym- ing $32 billion. bol used for the superstar, in response to The company owns AMC Theatres and bought the negative comments. Legendary Entertainment for $3.5 billion in January. In Some Beyonce fans even accused the September, it announced a movie partnership with CMAs of taking down references to the Sony Pictures. Diversifying away from China’s weaken- performance on social media; the CMA ing property market, Wanda Group has made enter- Twitter page had only a brief reference to Beyonce performing during the Formation World Tour at Mercedes-Benz tainment a major focus of its growth in recent years. It it. However, its Instagram page promoted Superdome, in New Orleans on Sept 24, 2016. — AP has openly embraced a mission to fend off Western a free download of the collaboration of proud that she could take the time to the Dixie Chicks returned to the CMA imports in the Chinese market and become a globally “Daddy Lessons” and its Facebook account come and show up,” Chris Stapleton said stage. “But when I found out the Dixie recognized Chinese entertainment brand. shared photos and video of the moment. of Beyonce backstage after the show. Chicks were going to perform, I freaked That push into the US entertainment industry has “CMA has not erased any mentions of “Queen Bey and the Dixie Chicks, I out,” Morris said on the red carpet before raised alarm among some American lawmakers con- Beyonce’s performance on the CMA thought that was just power, just raw the show. cerned about creative freedom and the promotion of Awards. In advance of the broadcast, CMA power,” said entertainer of the year Garth “Because it’s been a decade since they Chinese propaganda. A group of legislators recently removed a five-second promotional clip Brooks. “I just love that it was feminine raw have been on the stage. I just grew up asked the US Government Accountability Office to from ABC.com and CMA’s Facebook page. power.” Later on he said, “Tonight, I gotta listening to them and loving their point review Chinese takeovers. The promo was unapproved and CMA tell you, I missed the Chicks. I miss their of view and how they don’t give a (exple- The namesake company of legendary American tele- removed it prior to the broadcast,” read music.” Maren Morris, who won the new tive). And I just love them that about vision host Dick Clark was purchased in 2012 by a Thursday’s statement. “Beyonc√©’s per- artist of the year award, said she was glad them.” — AP group including investment firm Guggenheim Partners. formance with Dixie Chicks was a high- It produces several awards shows and the New Year’s light of the evening and we are continuing Eve countdown show in New York. to share the amazing full-length perform- Wanda said in a statement Friday that Dick Clark ance clip via our official social channels.” Beyonce, Kaepernick, Hart among Productions’ existing management “will remain in its This isn’t the first time the Dixie Chicks entirety,” and that both sides had reached a long-term have riled up country music fans. The Ebony Power 100 honorees operating agreement. It expects Dick Clark Productions Grammy-winning group, superstars of the to show “strong increases” in revenue and profit every eyonce, Serena Williams, Colin Kaepernick and Kevin Hart are among 100 genre, nearly had their career derailed after year, but did not say whether its agreement with man- lead singer Natalie Maines said in 2003 that black luminaries being recognized by Ebony magazine. The magazine revealed its annual Power 100 list Friday, which recognizes outstanding agement was contingent on revenue targets. they were ashamed of then-President Bush B Wanda’s statement said it expected to find ways achievements by black entertainers, corporate heads and civic leaders. Also on for the invasion of Iraq. Radio stations to coordinate development between Dick Clark refused to play their music and they were the list are Chance the Rapper, NBA star Carmelo Anthony and Nike brand presi- Productions and its previous deals in film, tourism denounced by conservatives and many dent Trevor Edwards. fans. Maines has also been critical of The 2016 Power 100 list will appear in the December issue of Ebony, which and sports. Republican Presidential candidate Donald will feature four different covers. Filmmaker Ava DuVernay, Olympic gold medal- Hollywood has eagerly welcomed Chinese partners. Trump. But overall, the country artists who ist Simone Biles and musician-producers John Legend and Nas will each appear From 2000 to 2015, Chinese direct investment in US performed and were honored on the show on the cover of the December issue. Ebony editor-in-chief Kyra Kyles said the entertainment firms amounted to $4 billion, according Wednesday were overwhelmingly support- honorees were chosen not only because of their successful careers, but because to Rhodium Group. That pace then skyrocketed in ive of the performance. they’ve used that success to “improve various facets of black life and render us January with Wanda’s purchase of Legendary, which “She’s a classy, classy lady and I am visible on the world stage.” — AP almost doubled that total by itself. — AP