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In a little more than four years, since the release of their debut, Wide Open Spaces, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Seidel have shipped more than 22 million records, becoming the first country act with two Diamond awards.

DIXIE CHICKS TO OPEN WIDE

Country Queens Prep Release of Third Album
Now that the fussin’ and feudin’s over, it’s time to get down to business for country supergroup Dixie Chicks.

With the high-visibility royalty dispute between the trio and Sony now settled, the Chicks will release their third album, Home, on its own brand-new Open Wide Records imprint through Monument/Columbia Records Group, Aug. 27.

The group supported the Recording Artists Coalition by playing one of the Grammy-week concerts to raise money for the org in L.A., before eventually resolving their differences with Sony.

Label Chairman Don Ienner grabbed a chaw of tobacco and spit out: "I can't help but believe, honestly and utterly, that their most impressive achievements are ahead of them. They have few peers in any form of music. I'm incredibly proud of Columbia Records' relationship with the Dixie Chicks."

The release is being accompanied by a comprehensive promotion/marketing campaign. In a little more than four years, since the release of their debut, Wide Open Spaces, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Seidel have shipped more than 22 million records, becoming the first country act with two Diamond awards. Their first sold 7.6 million OTC, while ’99’s Fly has sold 7.4 million OTC, with 340k of those coming in the first week.

The first single, "Long Time Gone," is already a hit at Country radio, with the video most-played at CMT. The second single, a cover of Stevie Nicks’ "Landslide," will go to Country radio on Aug. 20, then head to Top 40 and Adult formats in late September. The label is shipping 1.7 million units, with a #1 chart bow guaranteed.

VP Marketing Nick Cucci "Cucci Coo" says the overall plan is simple: "Just make sure we capture the fans we already have with an initial push at Country outlets, then expand the audience with an incredible second single."

While Dixie Chicks will not tour the U.S. until next spring because of Emily’s pregnancy, the threesome will be all over television, in print and online, including the following:

* Live performances on Today show’s Summer Concert Series (8/23), Letterman (8/27), CBSThe Early Show (8/29), Regis & Kelly (9/4), Leno (9/5), Lifetime’s Intimate Portrait series (9/30), CMT’s Crossroads series with James Taylor (10/18).

* Dixie Chicks will perform a pair of shows this week at L.A.’s Kodak Theatre, to be taped for broadcast as an NBC prime-time special in December.

* "Landslide" will be featured on AOL’s "First Listen" program, starting Aug. 19.

* Point-of-purchase retail campaign featuring special advance bins, online and brick-and-mortar pre-order incentive programs, backed with network/cable TV and billboard advertising.

* October cover of Redbook, "Women in Rock" issue of Rolling Stone, features in N.Y. Times, Time, Allure "Best of" issue, covers of Country Weekly, CMT Magazine and American Country.

* Launch's Artist of the Month for September.

Added The Firm’s Simon Renshaw, the band’s manager: "I don’t like the word ‘crossover.’ This is a major progression and artistic statement, a big step forward. It’s still very much country, but it has a whole lot of other influences. The band’s goal has always been to make their music as widely available as they can…and that is what we continue to do."

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