Big World: How Clear Channel “Programs America”

Big World: How Clear

Channel “Programs

America”Chapter 4-4Pgs.106-114Antoinette Lopez

Clear Channel’s Big Beginning

1996- Telecommunication Act is passed Media companies are now allowed to

own up to 8 radio stations per market & as many stations nationally as can acquire (buy).

Previously 2 radio stations per market and only 40 stations nationally.

Results: Unprecedented consolidation within the radio industry.

Clear Channel’s Big Beginning

1972- Clear Channel began with one station, started by a San Antonio investment banker, L. Lowry Mays and Red McCombs.

1996- Telecommunications Act passes and more than 1,000 mergers occurred that year.

Result: A remaining 4 dominating Companies, Clear Channel rules.

Clear Channel Ownership

Clear Channel Stations:

Z100 K-BIG KISS POWER FOX ZONE

All Nationwide stations bearing

these names take their orders

from San Antonio, where Clear Chanel’s Headquarters

remain.

Clear Channel Ownership 4,832 Radio Stations 4,833 broadcast TV stations Over 400 stations abroad More live-music venues than any other competitor

(selling more tickets than all competitors combined)

70% live-music intake King of “Outside Advertising” (billboards), owning

7,312 total Coast-to-coast reaching roughly 200 million

people- 70% of the public

Negatives Decrease in Independent Stations Decrease in songs, sounds, formats, and

opinions for listener to choose Musicians limiting tours to clear channel owned

venues Increased ticket prices Rebellious Musicians suffer little to no airplay Nearly reporting-free radio (syndication of Rush

Limbaugh to most stations) Increased Commercials, and skyrocketing ad

prices over the affordability of small businesses.

Positives Creation of new popular formats Promotion of new ideas “Free Market of Ideas”- where ratings are seriously

tracked, mapped, and responded to. Embracing the “Giving the people what they want

Approach” Does not posses a specific ideology Does not posses a specific Aesthetic Opinion Accomplishing the “miraculous task” of satisfying

the musical tastes of most people. Overall embodies democracy

FCC says: Clear channel is currently being treated as an

experiment Giant, but potentially unstable-”Reliant on Muscle

than on financial finesse” Telecommunications Act of ’96 was passed to

resuscitate suffocating stations, ½ of which were losing money.

“I don’t think there was anyone in Washington in 1996 who could’ve imagined that a few years later there’d be ONE company owning over 1,200 stations.”- Michael Copps, FCC board member

“We should never give anyone that much power” - Copps

Question:

How does Clear Channel personally

affect your life? Positive? Negative?