"Radio's Big Bully"

he history behind the radio conglomerates and the effects radio consolidation has had on the industry. "Thanks to laissez-faire regulators in Washington," he writes, "Clear Channel quickly has put together a stunning piece of vertical integration in big-money pop culture," he writes. "Last year, the company spent $4.4 billion to purchase SFX Entertainment, the nation's dominant concert venue owner and touring promoter. Clear Channel also owns a radio research company, a format consultancy, regional radio news networks, an airplay monitoring system, syndicated programming, radio trade magazines like the Album Network, 19 television stations and 700,000 outdoor billboards worldwide. With so many resources at hand, the company has all but cut off its business with outside vendors."