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You get no arguement from me on media consolidation - at least in terms of a monolith like Clear Channel in the radio arena. But the proliferation of sources on television (both cable and broadcast) as well as internet-based sources would belie that arguement rather quickly.

Certainly most arguements regarding monopolistic consolidation of the media are specifically pointed at Clear Channel and their gargantuan hold on the radio audience across the nation. There are many - myself included - who feel that the music business has stagnated in most formats, due to the 800-pound Clear Channel gorilla and those other large firms who compete directly with them (Cumulus, Infinity, Cox, Radio One). Most people know that to find truly "new" music, you need to listen to college radio or go onto the internet any more. Until CC can be convinced that they are losing market share, that model won't change. CC (unfortunately) drives radio in this country, and thanks to their massive presense, this position won't change any time soon.

All those things being present, it (CC's massive presense) does not have anything to do with your points regarding news.

Even though I do not make music my hobby and have a tin ear I have noticed a dirth of quailty radio in the last decade and a fall off in quality since the radio of my youth (70s and 80s). For example when some rock stars died (the guy from the Clash and the guy from Alice in Chains) no radio station on the air even broke format to comment on it. I remember when John Lennon died (too young to be a fan of his) the radio was all about that - playing his music, taking calls from fans and the format was put aside for the time. That is on the music side-on the talk radio side I think we have seen lots of clone like radio personalities. That is why I guess a nut like Art Bell gets such ratings because he is so different and original (never listened to his program).

I am as right wing as you can get but I get 3 hours of Rush and then get another 3 hours of Sean Hannity doing his version of Rush's show. Hannity (and others) just repeat issue that Rush just covered for the most part.

You also don't get competition in the format because instead of competition you have segmentation. The giant consolidating media company will have one news channel, one easy listening channel, one rock channel, one talk channel, etc. and they fragment and segment the market so they don't directly compete. So ratings don't matter anymore like they used to.

Lots of things wrong with consolidation and that was some of it, as far as I can recon.