The Dixie Chicks got dumped faster than that in 03. They went from top of the country charts and local "heroes" to mud in a day. 20 times a day on the radio to zero. I don't think I heard them on the radio for 10 years, and that was once, and that station didn't repeat the error. They are STILL persona non grata around here and in real country music.
They deserved it as far as I'm concerned. Know your audience. Dopehead leftwingnuts generally aren't country music fans. Conservatives are. Sure, Billboard propped them up and made then entertainers of the year the following year but it was nothing more than political ploy from the left and most country artists could give a shit what Billboard thinks of them.
If Kanye doesn't know his audience, that's his bad. Having some thug cut ties with me wouldn't mean jack to me. Kanye is one of the most successful PRODUCERS, not just artist, in his genre. Meaning: filthy rich. As a business man is quite intelligent. I'm pretty sure he weighed the risks.
“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” Edumnd Burke