KC radio stations battle over Lorde before World Series

WASHINGTON — San Francisco and Kansas City square off in the World Series beginning Tuesday, but the two cities found another way to compete already.

It started on Friday, when two San Francisco radio stations — KFOG and KOIT — are refusing to play Lorde’s hit “Royals” until after the end of the World Series, which pits the San Francisco Giants against the Kansas City — um, Royals. KOIT announced the ban on the song on Friday, saying that it was in response to requests from listeners.

Kansas City station 99.7 The Point fired back, saying that they will play the song on the hour, every hour, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

The song isn’t directly about the team, or even about baseball, but 17-year-old Lorde was inspired to write the song after seeing a picture of Royal great George Brett in uniform, with the team name across his shirt, in an old copy of National Geographic.

h/t NBC Sports.

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