We never even entertained the idea that she shouldnt also be able to use the name Lady A, and never will todays action doesnt change that. 8:31 am. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. The band's new name is receiving push back from a Seattle blues singer who says she's been going by the name "Lady A" for more than 20 years, according to Rolling Stone. Big Machine has no interest in doing so. shawn tackett Thats the story. Regardless, this is screwy. At least two users explained what the word means: Antebellum means the time before the war. Sydney Watson (@SydneyLWatson) June 11, 2020, MemphisFromZero (@MemphisFromZero) June 11, 2020. Hes true to his origins. Just one problem: White said she had used the exact same name since the 1980s, performing as Lady A thousands of times at concerts and festivals across the country. 6:13 pm, You are correct. The terms of the agreement, including who can continue to use what name or if any money changed hands, were not made public. The band Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum), left, and singer Anita White, who also performs under the stage name Lady A. before changing their name to shed its slavery-era connotations, Country group the Dixie Chicks announced that they would henceforth be known as the Chicks. July 9, 2020 @ From left: Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley of Lady A attend the 55th annual Country Music Association awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. 6:34 pm. You can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls. As a woman, I feel attacked and vilified. But the fact that they have owned the trademark on Lady A specifically for 10 years, and Anita Carter is asking $10 million to resolve the dispute, and that theyre suing her for NOTHING aside for asking for fair, dual use of a trademark they already own, are definitely important points to underscore. "I can say that for years, everyone in the country music community has really referred to them as Lady A. Changing their name before vetting it and clearing it with anyone else who may be using it was irresponsible, and so is suing Lady A preemptively. Lady A Country Group and Blues Singer Agree to Drop Lawsuit Over Shared Name. Nobody is immune from fitting current events into their own established narrative. Heck, not even George Washington is safe from the self-righteous cancel hordes. But, I have mad respect for him because he has lived out the music he wrote and is certainly not one of these white wokes running around Nash and East Nash. But perhaps most dramatically, the old symbols of the Confederacy, the group of states that seceded from the United States and sparked Americas Civil War, are finally being seen for the racist and incendiary associations they represent to Black Americans. Maybe the white woke millennial trio should change their name back to Lady Antebellum. The Lady A trio going on the offense might be the best legal move, but its an absolutely terrible move from a publicity standpoint. Do they honestly believe theyve created a valid remedy by simply shortening it? The Lady Antebellum story went viral specifically due to the implications of the title, which did not tell the whole story. When country band Lady Antebellum changed its name to Lady A last week, it may have caught some fans off guard. It appears they do want to share it, but they have no obligation. It was a have your cake and eat it too half measure. 7:06 pm. Now I guess Dixie Chicks, Alabama, Florida Georgia line, Baton Rouge should all change their southern band names too? that cant go unrecognized. I understand that its ironic that they were attempting to be conscientious of African Americans and how their name may make them feel and end up choosing a name used by an African American artist, but if the same scenario arose between two white artists, would the optics be as bad? If everything is racist, nothing is racist. Chase Rice really did take a selfie with a large crowd of unmasked fans, and did post the we back vid to make it look packed as possible. However, as Lady A the band explained when they made the name change, they had already been using the Lady A name for many years, which as someone who covers country music, I can vouch for. 1:51 pm. Culture. I predict the State of Washington is going to change its name because of President George Washingtons ownership of slaves. Lady Antebellum has changed its name to Lady A. When you change your name from Lady Antebellum to Lady A, the A still stands for antebellum, just like KFC still stands for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Yeah Thomas, Im with you. The band applied to register Lady A specifically (not just Lady Antebellum) in May of 2010. the real lady a Anita White never challenged the Lady A name until the band officially shortened their name to it. But thats OK too. But its their name, and they should have the freedom to change it if they choose. I know the area. Triple 8 never addressed that part of the event. trevistrat When we set out together almost 14 years ago, we named our band after the southern antebellum style home where we took our first photos. It doesnt make you too PC. The US country group Lady A - known until recently as Lady Antebellum, before changing their name to shed its slavery-era connotations - is suing . Furthermore, everyone knows what the A stands for. The trio, more likely their management and publicity team, really screwed up, and this whole thing is going to get uglier. She had been performing under the name for roughly 20 years. Rickie Jon Connors If they really believe that black lives matter, theyll stop performing permanently to show solidarity. As if the racism in country music is to blame for this. White Woke Gone Wild is my new band name. Military bases named for Confederate generals are under consideration to be renamed. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT/Viacom) The popular country band Lady Antebellum is undergoing a name change. 12:10 pm. Im sure hes an intellectual property specialist who knows a lot more about trademark law than anybody here. King Honky Of Crackershire Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. It is difficult to keep up on everything that gets cancelled in culture. At any rate, it doesnt matter what anyone thinks or says at this point. Before this matter, most of the people calling for their heads now didnt even know who the hell Lady Antebellum was. This is a lawyer who is solely focused on the legal ramifications who somehow convinced everyone else, We must sue now or were screwed! and for some reason believes fighting it out in the country of public opinion is also smart. Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for August 12, protests and civil unrest around the world, Anita White had been using the name Lady A, filed a lawsuit to secure rights to the name, Popular country music group The Dixie Chicks also changed their name, explaining that they'd wanted to do so for a while, Jussie Smollett files appeal argument in hate crime hoax conviction, Michael B. Jordan apologized to his mom before steamy Calvin Klein underwear ad was released, Kristin Cavallari jokes shes 'heartless' for breaking up with guys over text: 'I know thats horrible', Gisele Bndchen shares tips for when 'life gets challenging': 'Remember that the sun rises everyday', Amy Grant says she leaned on her faith after horrific bike accident: Its helped me not be afraid, Bette Midler confesses to plastic surgery: Time smooths 'everything out'. Maybe they should have just left well enough alone. That would be much more fitting. 11:10 am, Fuzzy Twoshirts The Kaiju Preservation Society. Grammy-winning band Lady Antebellum has now changed their name to 'Lady A' to eliminate any reference to pre-Civil War slavery and racial injustice. The name itself, albeit stupid, did no real harm. "As a band, we have strived for our music to be a refugeinclusive of all," the band told its fans. How many careers have been ruined because someone apologized when they should have said Fuck off, or not said anything at all? This is a good point. The road were heading down is going to be very precarious. You cant make this shit up. In reality, they just want a judge to say they can use the name too. It seems like they literally put two seconds of thought into their decision and made a decision that doesnt truly help any cause that they are for. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Andrew Brown (@AndrewB66636244) June 11, 2020, So now were all suddenly offended by an ADJECTIVE?? Now theyre the avatars of oppression, only because its what is filling peoples Twitter feeds. But, on the other hand, yes, good . White said: It said that we would coexist and that they would use their best efforts to assist me on social media platforms, Amazon, iTunes, all that. I am talking about the organization, not the cause, but the cause has been hijacked by the collaboration., Ron_Jeff heartfelt message to social media on Thursday (June 11), explaining its realization that Antebellum is a reference to slavery in America. But the lesson many may and arguably should take from this is to not give into the demand mob in the first place. 6:53 am. Thats because to much of the media, including country music media, country music is nothing more than a stereotype. I havent gone on Spotify or iTunes, but do their old albums still have Antebellum on them or have they been redone with the shortened name? Like Garth tried to do with the lowercase g? Did You Ever Wonder How and Why the Left Is Able to Push Their Narratives Almost Unhindered? 10:15 am. 1 country ballad What If I Never Get Over You, shared a lengthy apology with fans. July 9, 2020 @ Seems the original Lady A was using it first and could likely have the new Lady As mark expunged. Lady As change comes as our nation comes to terms with some of the most dramatic and rapid shifts in Americans attitude towards race in the nations history. July 9, 2020 @ Lady A, formerly known as Lady Antebellum, jumped on social media on June 11, 2020 to explain why the country band changed its name. Because the whites being offended for blacks are now going to battle against the name of a genre of Latino music. After much personal reflection, band discussion, prayer and many honest conversations with some of our closest Black friends and colleagues, we have decided to drop the word 'antebellum' from our name and move forward as Lady A, the nickname our fans gave us almost from the start. ". culture is real, and a lot of Americans do not want to put up with it. 9:07 pm. I dont think Lady Antebellum tried to do the right thing. Nothing about the word antebellum is racist. To be fair, George Washington ripped out his living slaves teeth to make his dentures. Bless his heart. So today, we speak up and make a change., NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 16: (L-R) Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood of Lady [+] Antebellum perform onstage during the 2019 CMT Artists of the Year at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on October 16, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The lesson will be to avoid the whole mess entirely. 9:48 pm, And the Grammy collaboration of the year goes to. Its the sign of the times, July 11, 2020 @ I have read that even the term master bedroom is now off limits. 7:55 am, Atomic Zombie Redneck You also must get the issue right. As for Lady A, formerly Lady Antebellum you are a complete disgrace to bow to this WOKE CRAP. The Grammy Award-winning country trio posted a [+] heartfelt message to social media on Thursday (June 11), explaining its realization that Antebellum is a reference to slavery in America. sodcutterjones They just want the ability to use the name freely. White, a black woman, called the bands adoption of her long-standing name an example of pure privilege., The band sued White in 2020 after she rebuffed early requests for a settlement that both groups could use the name. Or to be instructedas we were last week, that if you write something for a publication that subscribes to the A.P. We hope you will dig in and join us.", The members ofLady A Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, and Dave Haywood pledged to continue educating themselves and to "search the parts of our hearts that need pruning to grow into better humans.". Or in my case, I wasnt into country except for Johnny Cash, until one of my all time faves, Gwen Stefani, started to date Blake Shelton so I checked him out and moved forth from there. We hope Anita and the advisers she is now listening to will change their minds about their approach. I was excited to go to your show this year and now youve lost a fan for life. Serves them right for trying too hard, and I even like their music. Related: Blues singer lambasts Lady Antebellum's name change, says she's been Lady A for 20 years. 1:15 pm. Country group Lady Antebellum is making a huge change to their band - they are changing its name. It would be starting over from scratch. The idea they have $10 million dollars just laying around because theyre a mainstream band is ludicrous. Clueless, innocent, and sheltered maybe They grew up in very white neighborhood. July 9, 2020 @ July 9, 2020 @ We are sad to share that our sincere hope to join together with Anita White in unity and common purpose has ended, the group said in a statement. She and her team have demanded a $10 million payment, so reluctantly we have come to the conclusion that we need to ask a court to affirm our right to continue to use the name Lady A, a trademark we have held for many years. Landon Their music is straight up adult contemporary anyway. Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, and Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum attend the 48th annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 5, in Nashville, Tennessee. ", Country band Lady Antebellum is in the throes of a lawsuit over the name Lady A, which they now go by after reconsidering their previous name's reference to the pre-abolition South. Im sure theres some second guessing going on now, but since theyve said they believe the name is problematic, you cant go back now. Even though the band are well-off, ten million dollars is ridiculous. Lady Antebellum decided to change their name in June after the death of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests (the word antebellum is used to refer to the period and architecture in the US . There was a perception out there in the public that Antebellum had racist connotations. by John Scalzi - 2022. That may be where we disagree. OOPS! Lady A. did not and now they are screwed. As many others have pointed out, erasing Antebellum but leaving the A is a little disingenuous since everyone knows what it stands for. Using A for Antebellum is akin to saying N-word, in that, we know what you mean and what its replacing. But really though this cancel mob may seem like an on-line majority but in the real world I find these people to largely be cowards on the issues when asked directly about them in a nuanced way/, PennCentral It hasnt even been a month since Lady A announced their name change. Lady A feat. Whether you think changing it was the right thing or not, its what they thought was the right thing. When the trio first announced the name change in June out of respect for black Americans, it appeared that they were unaware that Anita White had been performing as Lady A for 20 years. June 11, 2020 9:54am. I do find it kind of humorous how articles make the Anita Lady A out to be some revolutionary well known artist in her area when her monthly Spotify listeners before this was less than twenty, and before this went down she genuinely was getting about five or less likes on her Twitter posts. Actually, I am really tired of everything from front yards to peanut butter and jelly and everything in between being called racist. July 13, 2020. But that is not how theyve been portrayed in the matter. People like getting fired up about something but everyone moves on in a matter of days or weeks. And does Lady A really think that suing a black woman over trying to change your name from a potentially racially-insensitive term is the way to get on the right side of this issue? Dont piss on my leg and tell me its raining. Dee Manning GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. Sports leagues such as the NFL and NASCAR are addressing past policies that were seen to prejudice Black people, and even leading media publications have been forced to apologize for their past actions. Im probably not being fair laughing at Lady Whatevers problem because I dont like them. Trigger, your comments on trademark law arent entirely accurate. But as I see it neither this nor the Highwomen issue you are concerned about are really indicative of any larger issue. Lady Antebellum has changed its name to Lady A. Were disappointed that we wont be able to work together with Anita for that greater purpose. Find out more about how we use your information in our privacy policy and cookie policy. "When we set out together almost 14 years ago . Ghost of Country Past There are bigger fish to fry. And the burden of proof is NOT on the R&B Lady A to do a legal search to find that someone else has trademarked a name that the R&B Lady A has been ACTIVELY using. Triple 8 never addressed that part of the event. Does anyone really believe these people are racist? So today, we speak up and make a change. Although I think Lady A blues will win, it wont be anywhere near $10 million. But perfectly harmless and fluffy. Ill still enjoy their music, realizing that they are just kids caught up in the moment. On Tuesday, Seattle recording artist . It shouldnt have taken George Floyd to die for them to realize that their name had a slave reference to it. The term Antebellum is derived from the Antebellum Era in the American South when slavery was still legal. Did you encounter any technical issues? Then she could be The Person of an Unidentified Gender A? But maybe they shouldve thought about it before going all woke with the name change. July 12, 2020 @ This is the height of politically correct absurdity. In a surprising, but heartfelt gesture, band membersHillary Scott, Dave Haywood, and Charles Kelley expressed regret and embarrassment for not previously taking into consideration the association the word antebellum has with slavery. That said, theyre asking $0, have had the trademark on the name for over 10 years, and are simply asking the court to recognize they have a legal right to use it, which they do. Compelling people to read beyond a title and get the facts before judging is sage advice for any scenario, especially today when so many are looking to be outraged to fulfill their own desires for self-importance and moral superiority. 144 Comments. Please sound off in the Comments section below. Causing pain was never our hearts' intention, but it doesn't change the fact that indeed, it did just that. We felt we had been brought together for a reason and saw this as living out the calling that brought us to make this change in the first place. Chase Rice and Chris Janson played shows. It simply means before the war. @ Trigger The protests that swept the nation in the aftermath of George Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers have shaken the nation and sparked deep soul searching by many about the countrys racist past. June 16, 2020 / 7:20 PM / CBS News. Anyone else tired of hyperbole and clickbait yet? As such, he crossed the Columbia River and helped establish the Washington Territory, which eventually became a state. I hope t Lady Antebellum goes down like the Dixie Chicks. Once somebody explained it and the mob caught on to what antebellum signifies, theyd have been all over the group. Just ask Louis XVI and Nicholas II.They appeased the Jacobins and Bolsheviks and they were entered into the grave. You must use your trademark for it to remain valid, and you cant selectively enforce it. Thanks for giving the cancel culture mob more ammo, Lady Antebellum. You often cannot copyright a name because as a simple expression, and its not fair to take that out of circulation for general use by anyone. Now, before they sink any money or time into publicizing Lady A change it to Lady Abolition or whatever and get on with their lives. Its not a perfect solution, but its addressing the concern. Bless there hearts. Its one thing to be told to refer to Caitlyn Jenner as she but its quite another to be told that we must agree that Caitlyn Jenner literally is a woman. July 11, 2020 @ You may opt-out by. It doesnt hurt the new Lady A at all and the original Lady A gets a little cash and free publicity. People who dont give a shit about the random celeb arent going to then really change the artists sales, streaming, etc afterwards if they didnt care about them in the first place. Ms. Whites LADY A brand had been usurped and set on the path to erasure.. Trademark rights are based on use, not registration. 9:37 pm. But lets remember, this is a band that a few years ago basically broke up because nobody was paying attention to them. enforcers who deny that it exists and call people assholes for objecting to it. Country singer Luke Bryan has called the drama surrounding Lady Antebellum's name change 'a mess.' (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) Now, country superstar Luke Bryan has voiced his opinion . July 10, 2020 @ Lady Antebellum, which formed in 2006, said Thursday that it is changing its name to Lady A, a "nickname" used by fans for years, and admitted being "regretful and embarrassed" that it had failed . I cant express to you how difficult it would be for any band to just rebrand to a completely different name. Copyright 2023 RedState.com/Salem Media. 4:40 pm. Now that action has resulted in them publicly suing a well-respected black member of the music community and receiving a massive backlash for it. According to their suit, Lady A do have legal claim to the Lady A name that precede the official name change. In a lengthy note to fans on social . (Or in the modern parlance, dont gaslight me.) Youve managed to be politically correct and kneel to your masters there. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, But clearly the lawyers working for Anita White believe they have the advantage in the situation because if Lady A the band does anything less than give into their demands, they will be couched as racist in public. @collin We can do so much more together than in this dispute. July 9, 2020 @ Lady A, Hey Arnold I think it would be fitting and well deserved. I doubt 5% of either group could spell antebellum. This has nothing to do with them being millennials and everything to do with their record label and management company being equally freaked out they would get labeled by social media as being racist, while also trying to score some free, positive publicity. Shane did not say it best. Everything thing they do from how they dress to their actual music seems like it goes through a marketing review before it gets the ok. From their original name to the name change to the lawsuit I actually doubt that the members of this group have that much of a clue about any of it and just go along with what theyve been told to do because it works to make them money and their managers and lawyers and record company etc. July 9, 2020 @ These were catastrophic, and irresponsible moves, both morally and from a publicity standpoint. Videos by American Songwriter Videos by American Songwriter Originally named Lady . $5m is nothing, and Im actually worth more than that, regardless of what they think. The Real Reason Lady Antebellum Is Changing Its Name. Like how does your team not look into if they are other artists named that??? history is now being revealed and many blacks are waking up , along with the Global population. Then she could be Woman A or Woman ? Or maybe she doesnt believe in binary genders? I live in PC HELL and deal with this shortsightedness all the time. Yes, we have. Dee Manning And I can say that because I lived in the suburbs. That is why they get for going white guilt on themselves. Its funny seeing him sequel like a white woke pig. Now that action has resulted in them publicly suing a well-respected black member of the music community and receiving a massive backlash for it. (If anybody thinks Im making shoot up, Google this stuff.). Chick may be problematic or seen as demeaning in some circumstances if a man uses the term to refer to a woman, but its not at all controversial if a woman calls herself by that word. That makes absolutely no sense. All rights reserved. British indie label One Little Indian changed its name to One Little Indie, and electronic label Whities is now AD 93. 9:19 pm. I see your point. Egads. And does Lady A really think that suing a black woman over trying to change your name from a potentially racially-insensitive term is the way to get on the right side of this issue? The story went viral because people thing theyre attacking a black woman. Your email address will not be published. July 9, 2020 @ As musicians, it reminded us of all the music born in the south that influenced ussouthern rock, blues, R&B, gospel and of course country, the band said. (also, lets be honest. to hide behind while enslaving the blacks. Dee Manning While CMA & Music Row operate independently of Billboard, they are not exactly siloed off from each other either. Those instances never got this out of hand. "I don't think they were anticipating the aftermath of being called Lady A," he stated. Dropsy! Once you yield to them, its never enough. I was simply making different, but adjacent points that if you change your name to perceivably give into the politically correct crowd and you end up in the position Lady Antebellum is now, this will disincentivize bands or anyone else from doing this in the future, while it also seems some entities are spared public ridicule simply because theyre perceived to be on the just side of the political divide. Charlotte So whats the lesson? The group originally began their career as 'Lady Antebellum'. A trademark means that youre taking something and making sure nobody else can use it for marketing purposes so theres no confusion. Lady Antebellum changes name in wake of Black Lives Matter movement, The country-pop trio who won Record and Song of the Year Grammys for their 2009 smash "Need You Now" have renounced the . Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Trust me, this writer is not very sympathetic to Lady Antebellum. Classic example of virtue signaling and white woke blowing up in your face. 4:50 am. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail. 2. When youre Goliath, suing David just looks awful, and I dont think they are coming back from this. Perception is reality. The desire to change the names appeared to me more about self perception than what anybody else thought..