The Wright Times

Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Editorial & Opinion

have never banned
artists due to differing
opinions.
They also state
that "radio is
the least consolidated
segment
of the
media industry."
They claim
that, in the wake
of September 11,
their ubiquitous list
of songs deemed
inappropriate
for airplay was
only a suggestion,
and wasn't an official ban.
The list includes such frightening
and dark songs like, 'What A
Wonderful World,' by Louis Armstrong,
and 'Disco Inferno' by The
Trampps.
Clear Channel's business
model can be seen as part of the
problem in the music industry
today. With less variety and fewer
artists on the radio, CD sales
could be taking a hit. And in an
age where massive file-sharing
has brought the industry to its
knees, it might not be the best
time to start cutting acts from
the roster. Radio has also been
supplanted by two relatively new
forms of finding and listening to
music. Websites like YouTube and
MySpace have become the way to
discover unknown artists, and iPods
have come to provide the sort
of interactive listening experience
that radio could never offer. Clear
Channel seems to be fine with
this arrangement. Companies like
Brinks keep our homes safe, banks
keep our money safe, and now we
have Clear Channel to keep our
radios safe. Safe, but not sound.

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