Image source, Getty Images
A US radio station that said it would not play Listener Request Beyoncé because it was a “country music station” is now playing Texas Hold 'Em after coming under fire.
The fan who made the request accused KYKC-FM of “racism and discrimination,” and posted the station's response to his request on X (formerly Twitter).
The post has been viewed millions of times and shared by fan account @BeyLegion.
The Oklahoma station manager later called Beyoncé an “icon.”
In it, the star – who has 32 Grammy Awards and 88 nominations – sings rock music and a banjo accompaniment.
In an emailed statement to CBS News, the BBC's US partner, Roger Harris, general manager of the South Central Oklahoma Radio Corporation, which oversees KYKC, said the song was now on the station's country music playlist. In addition to a list of two other stations. He is honored.
Harris said in his statement that the station did not know that Beyoncé had released two country music songs, adding that the response from fans was a “standard response” since KYKC does not play her music.
Mr. Harris added that KYKC “didn't even have the song” because it is a “small station” that is not “served by the big brands like the bigger stations do.”
After emails, calls and requests for the song flooded into the station, staffers tracked it down and, after listening to it, agreed it sounded “country,” he said.
“We have nothing against Beyoncé, and we wish her well in her country music career,” Harris told CBS News.
He said: “In fact, we hope that artists will not be limited to certain genres or forms.”
“If it's good music, it's good music.”
Four hours after the initial complaint was filed on
Despite being released earlier this week, the song has now garnered over nine million plays on Spotify alone, and over 900,000 views on YouTube.
“Infuriatingly humble web fan. Writer. Alcohol geek. Passionate explorer. Evil problem solver. Incurable zombie expert.”
