An Oklahoma radio station, 100.1 KYKC, faced criticism for initially refusing to play Beyoncé’s country songs despite their recent release. Although the artist is known for R&B, hip-hop, and pop, she has ventured into country music with two new songs ahead of her upcoming album.

The station, recognized for its country playlists, rejected listener requests for Beyoncé’s music, prompting backlash from the BeyHive. Fans called out the station on social media and even contacted them directly, with claims that Beyoncé’s song “isn’t high enough on the charts” for airplay.

Score Broadcasting, KYKC’s copyright holder, responded to listeners, stating they would consider playing the song when it gained more popularity. Eventually, the station backtracked and included Beyoncé in its playlist, addressing the demand from fans.

Despite the adjustment, some fans expressed dissatisfaction, accusing the station of racial bias in country music. They raised concerns about potential discrimination and called for accountability.

Score Broadcasting’s general manager, Roger Harris, clarified that their initial refusal was not based on racism but rather on their typical protocol, treating Beyoncé like any other non-country artist. He emphasized their support for the artist and their efforts to air the song once they learned about it.

A spokesperson for Score Broadcasting reiterated their commitment to equality and clarified that they were unaware of Beyoncé’s new country song initially. They emphasized their love for Beyoncé’s work and highlighted their support for her career throughout.