Customer Reviews

Clear Vision: The Story of Clear Channel Communications

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Don't expect an objective look at Clear Channel as a company, nor it's officer.

Nary an objective mention of how Clear Channel bought up many radio stations using mega debt, firing staffs, merging sales and back office operations, resulting of thousands of job losses.

Not to mention having centralized control over very predictable playlists and more. Clear Channel has made radio not fun to listen to.

So... if you want an objective look at them try the other book.

If you want to read Clear Channel propaganda, this is your book. The author says Clear Channel paid him to do the book and though he declined to say what amount, another journalist said he was offered more than $100,000. The copyright is held by Clear Channel. Don't get this confused with Right of the Dial which was not commissioned by the fine folks at Clear Channel Propaganda Inc.

A warning to all: do not expect an objective read. This is essentially a corporate autobiography from the only company shameless enough to do such a thing. It was commissioned in response to the REAL Clear Channel story, "Right of the Dial: The Rise of Clear Channel and the Fall of Commercial Radio". Send your Amazon dollars that way and don't buy into this corporate, narcissistic tome.

If you are someone who is mildly interested in the radio business, CLEAR VISION is the book to read. If you've never worked in radio nor have an appreciation of the business, you're likely to get stuck in the mud debating media consolidation and miss the lessons Reed Bunzel reports about Clear Channel Communications. Even former CCC employees who work elsewhere in the media will likely comprehend the pioneering nature of Bunzel's narrative. Finally, if you have an ax to grind or you've not worked in radio, television, newspapers, outdoor media, etc., you may be pleasantly surprised. Clearly, radio is a business. Even major radio groups like Westinghouse Broadcasting and others have come and gone through tumultuous changes. Good news is that radio is thriving today and will survive. And, the people employed by CCC may still be the greatest assets of the company. Undeniably, this well-researched book looks as much into the future of radio as it sheds light on the behind-the-scenes contributions that CCC has made in the past.