Clear Channel and Antitrust

Clear Channel under Department of Justice Investigation:

Department of Justice antitrust chief Hewitt Pate told a House Judiciary Committee yesterday that DOJ attorneys have conducted “a number of interviews” as part of probes into Clear Channel and has “undertaken significant efforts to find additional evidence.” Pate said that the Clear Channel manner is “one of importance to us,” and it will continue to pursue its open investigation of the company. Among the charges DOJ is investigating is whether or not Clear Channel limited airplay at its stations for those artists that did not use its concert division. Pate’s comments came in response to complaints by Rep. Howard Berman, who said DOJ attorneys had failed to follow up on antitrust complaints he referred to the department more than a year ago. “I’m extremely dissatisfied with DOJ’s apparent unwillingness to inititate any kind of investigation into these serious allegations,” Berman said. Berman formally requested the DOJ and the FCC in the beginning of 2002 to investigate allegations that Clear Channel had abused its market position in an attempt to prevent its competitors from obtaining business. [Radio & Records]

Is Clear channel the new Microsoft?