Mass market monopoly

Did you know that the 32 commercial radio stations that earned a share in recent audience rankings for the Albuquerque market are owned by just six companies and one Albuquerque church?

  • Clear Channel of San Antonio operates nine AM or FM stations.
  • Citadel Broadcasting of Las Vegas, Nevada, eight.
  • American General Media of Bakersfield and Univision of Los Angeles five each.
  • Entravision Communications of Santa Monica, California, and Vanguard Media of Albuquerque two each.
  • Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque one.

Once upon a time, not very long ago (1981), a broadcaster could own and operate just one AM and one FM station in the same market — and only seven of each nationwide. Clear Channel now owns more than 1,200 radio stations.