Because, SRS, it's the old double standard. A woman who displays her feminity without shame must be a worthless whore. Oh sure, guys WANT some women to do it in nudie mags, but they won't respect them.

Ergo, female musicians who pose nude must not be worthy of respect as musicians.

Of course it's a ridiculous publicity stunt. That's how famous musicians usually get famous and particulary how they STAY famous. It'd be a nice world if musicians were solely judged on their musicianship and artistic merit and heartfelt desire, but it ain't so. You're right, Spartacus, it's a choice. They choose to market themselves in the most feasible way given their physical assets, and it worked. They wanted to make a living as musicians, and guess what? They're making a living as musicians... and if they hadn't done it, they'd still be most the popular weekend act in town and nothing else. Either way, they'd like music as much.

Personally, I think the photo is tastefully done and (inadvertantly?) symbolic. They are at risk because they bared their political thoughts -- and it didn't jive with the country music scene. What's a little no-really-revealing skin after that?