Editing IHeartMedia (section)

==Criticism==

===Market share===
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the company became an object of persistent criticism.<ref>Klinenberg, Eric. ''Fighting For Air: The Battle to Control America's Media''. Metropolitan Books, 2007</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Foege, Alec. ''Right of the Dial: The Rise of Clear Channel and the Fall of Commercial Radio''. Faber and Faber, 2008</ref> FCC regulations were relaxed following the [[Telecommunications Act of 1996]], allowing companies to own far more radio stations than before. After spending about $30&nbsp;billion, Clear Channel owned over 1,200 stations nationwide, including as many as eight stations in certain markets. Although "media reform" social movement organizations like [[Future of Music Coalition]] mobilized against Clear Channel, so far the company has been able to hold on to all of its stations after divesting a few following the acquisition of AMFM, although over 500 stations have since been sold or are in the process of being sold since the company announced plans to become privately held.

===September 11, 2001===
{{Main|Clear Channel memorandum}}
Following the [[September 11 attacks]] on New York and [[The Pentagon]], radio stations circulated a list of songs that were deemed inappropriate for broadcast during the time of national mourning following the attacks. A small list was initially generated by the Clear Channel office on Thursday, September 13, 2001,<ref>In 2001, Jack Evans, regional senior VP of programming at Clear Channel, attributed the creation of the list to individual program directors rather than management; however, the completed list was distributed to the program directors by management at Clear Channel. See also: {{cite web |last=Truitt |first=Eliza |title=It's the End of the World as Clear Channel Knows It |work=Chatterbox |publisher=[[Slate.com]] |date=September 17, 2001 |url=http://www.slate.com/id/1008314/ |access-date=September 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617211510/http://www.slate.com/id/1008314/ |archive-date=June 17, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> though individual [[program director]]s added many of their own songs. A list containing about 150 songs was soon published on the [[Internet]]. Some critics suggested that Clear Channel's political preferences played a part in the list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lipmagazine.org/articles/featwishnia_142.shtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20020405013224/http://www.lipmagazine.org/articles/featwishnia_142.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 5, 2002|title=lipmagazine.org}}</ref> A number of songs were apparently placed on the list because they had specific words such as "plane", "fly", "burn", and "falling" in their titles. Clear Channel denies that this was a list of banned songs, claiming it was a list of titles that should be played only after great thought. Also WOFX, Cincinnati, owned by Clear Channel at the time continued to play songs that were on the alleged list, even though radio headquarters was in Cincinnati at the time.<ref name="CC-PR">{{cite press release |title=Clear Channel Says National "Banned Playlist" Does Not Exist |publisher=Clear Channel Communications, Inc. |date=September 18, 2001 |url=http://content.clearchannel.com/corporate/article/NationalBannedPlaylist.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020923200949/http://content.clearchannel.com/corporate/article/NationalBannedPlaylist.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 23, 2002 |access-date=August 3, 2008 }}</ref> Songs on the list included [[Tom Petty]]'s "[[Free Fallin']]", [[Louis Armstrong]]'s "[[What a Wonderful World]]" and the entire [[Rage Against the Machine discography]].

===Live music recordings===
In 2004, Clear Channel acquired a key patent in the process of producing [[Instant Live]] recordings, in which a live performance is recorded directly from the sound engineer's console during the show, and then rapidly burned on [[CD]] so that audience members can buy copies of the show as they are leaving the venue. This had been intended to provide additional revenue to the artist, venue, and promoter, as well as stifle the demand for unauthorized [[Bootleg recording|bootleg]] concert recordings made by audience members. However, some media critics, as well as smaller business rivals, believed that Clear Channel was using the patent (on the process of adding cues to the beginning and ending of tracks ''during recording'', so that the concert is not burned as a single enormous track) to drive competitors out of business or force them to pay licensing fees, even if they do not use precisely the same process. The patent was transferred to [[Live Nation]] when [[Clear Channel Entertainment]] was spun off, but the patent was revoked on March 13, 2007,<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2007/03/12|date=March 13, 2007|title=EFF Kills Bogus Clear Channel Patent|publisher=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]]|access-date=August 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909095922/https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2007/03/12|archive-date=September 9, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> after it was found that this patent infringed on a prior patent granted for [[Telex Communications|Telex]].

===Indecency zero tolerance===
During the nationwide crackdown on indecent material following the [[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy|Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show in 2004]], Clear Channel launched a "self-policing" effort, and declared that there would be no "indecent" material allowed on the air.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> This led to the company's dismissal of several of their own employees, including popular and high-profile hosts in a number of cities. There were protests from free-speech advocates. During the same period, [[Howard Stern]] was dropped from six Clear Channel-owned stations in Florida, California, Pennsylvania, New York and Kentucky. By mid-year, rival [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]] (through radio division [[CBS Radio|Infinity Broadcasting]], and the original Viacom, not the [[Viacom (2005–2019)|second one]]) brought Stern's show back to those six markets. In June 2004, Viacom/Infinity Broadcasting Inc./One Twelve Inc. filed a $10&nbsp;million lawsuit against Clear Channel for breaking of contracts and non-payment of licensing fees due to the dropping of Stern's show. (Viacom was Howard Stern's employer at the time, though he has since moved to [[Sirius XM|Sirius XM Satellite Radio]].) The following July, Clear Channel filed a countersuit of $3&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2004-02-25-clearchannel-decency_x.htm?csp=34 |work=USA Today |title=Clear Channel adopts 'zero-tolerance' indecency policy |date=February 25, 2004 |access-date=August 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016060125/http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2004-02-25-clearchannel-decency_x.htm?csp=34 |archive-date=October 16, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Concerts===
In the early 2000s, Clear Channel settled a lawsuit with a [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], [[Colorado]] concert promoter, Nobody In Particular Presents (NIPP).<ref name="ReferenceA" /> In the lawsuit, NIPP alleged that Clear Channel halted airplay on its local stations for (NIPP) clients, and that Clear Channel would not allow NIPP to publicize its concerts on the air. The lawsuit was settled in 2004 when Clear Channel agreed to pay NIPP a confidential sum. However, a systematic analysis of concert ticket prices found no evidence that Clear Channel was cross-leveraging its radio interests with its (now divested) concert promotion interests.<ref>Alan B. Krueger, "The Economics of Real Superstars: The Market for Rock Concerts in the Material World", ''Journal of Labor Economics'': 23 (2005): 1–30.</ref>

===Production of local programming===
iHeartMedia uses the [[Radio Computing Services|RCS Nex-Gen]] automation system throughout their properties. Like most contemporary automation systems, Nex-Gen allows a DJ from anywhere in the country to sound as if he or she is broadcasting from anywhere else in the country, on any other station.<ref name="booz">{{Cite news |first=Mark |last=Washburn |work=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |title=The voice of Charlotte... and Huntsville... and Jackson... |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8847612_ITM |page=1H |date=May 26, 2002 |access-date=November 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111223633/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8847612_ITM |archive-date=January 11, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> A technological outgrowth of earlier, tape-based automation systems dating back to the 1960s, this method—known as [[voice-tracking]]—allows for smaller market stations to be partially or completely staffed by "cyber-jocks" who may never have visited the town from which they are broadcasting. This practice may also result in local on-air positions being reduced or eliminated. It has been stated that iHeartMedia maintains a majority of its staff in hourly-paid, part-time positions. Beginning in the early 2020s, many of its stations have added a disclaimer with their [[station identification]] sequence noting that the voicetracked content is pre-recorded.

===Lack of local staff during emergency===
{{Main|Minot train derailment}}
Clear Channel was criticized for a situation that occurred in [[Minot, North Dakota]], on the morning of January 18, 2002. At around 2:30&nbsp;a.m., a [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] train derailed and leaked {{convert|240,000|USgal|L}} of toxic [[anhydrous ammonia]], releasing a cloud of caustic, poisonous gas over the city.<ref name="CBC">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/minot-train-derailment-kills-one-injures-dozens-1.342396 |title=Minot train derailment kills one, injures dozens |publisher=CBC |date=January 18, 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817204119/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/minot-train-derailment-kills-one-injures-dozens-1.342396 |archive-date=August 17, 2007 }}</ref> At the time, Clear Channel owned six commercial radio stations out of nine in the Minot area. City officials attempted to contact the local Clear Channel office by telephone to spread warnings of the danger using its radio stations, but it was several critical hours before the station manager was finally reached at his home. In the meantime, [[9-1-1]] operators were advising panicked callers to tune to [[KCJB]] for emergency instructions, but the station was not broadcasting any such information.<ref name="Now">{{cite web|url=http://www.democracynow.org/2007/1/25/exclusive_911_calls_in_north_dakota|title=Exclusive... 911 Calls in North Dakota Town Reveal Dangers of Media Consolidation|publisher=Democracy Now|date=January 25, 2007|access-date=November 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206055034/http://www.democracynow.org/2007/1/25/exclusive_911_calls_in_north_dakota|archive-date=December 6, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

The ammonia spill was the largest of its kind in the United States, with one person killed, and over 1,000 seeking medical attention. Clear Channel claimed no responsibility for its failure to warn residents, maintaining that the city should have used the [[Emergency Alert System]] to trigger automatic equipment in place at all U.S. radio stations. The EAS equipment was later found to be functional at the time, but had not been activated by city, state or regional authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radioworld.com/article/2718|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201021200/http://www.radioworld.com/article/2718|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013|title=Reconsidering Minot and EAS|access-date=October 12, 2010}}</ref> Other critical systems throughout Minot were either inoperable or had failed, including the public siren system, electricity in parts of the town, and the 9-1-1 telephone system, which became overloaded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2157395/|title=The whole story about that toxic spill and the Clear Channel "monopoly".|first=Jack|last=Shafer|date=January 10, 2007|work=Slate Magazine|access-date=September 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125002557/http://www.slate.com/id/2157395/|archive-date=November 25, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Rejection of advertising images===
[[File:PrideBoards.gif|thumb|left|Clear Channel Outdoor rejected the two images on the left]]
In June 2010, Clear Channel Outdoor rejected without comment two [[digital billboard]] images submitted by St. Pete Pride,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stpetepride.org/|title=Tampa Bay's LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration!|website=St Pete Pride}}</ref> an [[LGBT]] organization that sponsors [[gay pride]] events in the [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]], [[Florida]] area, leading the group to cancel its contract with Clear Channel. St. Pete Pride has stated that throughout its eight-year history, Clear Channel has edited the organization's advertising material, and questioned whether the rejection of these images were because they displayed same-sex couples in affectionate poses. A Clear Channel spokesperson declined to comment on the specific reasons why the images were rejected but denied that the affection being shown was an issue, saying that such images had been included in previous St. Pete Pride campaigns.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pransky |first=Noah |title=St. Pete Pride gay-themed digital billboards rejected by Clear Channel Outdoor |location=St. Petersburg, Florida |publisher=WTSP |date=June 11, 2010 |url=http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=133980&catid=8 |access-date=June 25, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.glaad.org/2010/calltoaction/clearchannel|title = Call on Clear Channel Outdoor to Explain Rejection of Pride Billboards|date = September 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gay-marriage-billboards-banned-across-united-states-164395706.html|title = Gay Marriage Billboards Banned Across United States}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://banbillboardblight.org/clear-channel-wont-allow-gay-pride-images-on-billboards/|title = Clear Channel Won't Allow Gay Pride Images on Billboards}}</ref>

===Censorship===
iHeartMedia and its subsidiaries have been associated with censorship of state and federal candidates for public office, elected officials and various political viewpoints.

iHeartMedia has been criticized in the past for censoring opinions critical of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. ''[[Magic (Bruce Springsteen album)|Magic]]'', the 2007 release from [[Bruce Springsteen]] which contained songs that were subtly critical of then-president [[George W. Bush]], a Republican, and his administration, was censored from air play on Clear Channel. After [[Natalie Maines]], the singer of the country band [[Dixie Chicks]], told a London audience that they were "ashamed [of the fact that] the president of the United States is from Texas", the band's radio airplay dropped precipitously. Afterwards, some iHeartMedia (then Clear Channel) stations removed The Dixie Chicks from their playlists without any noted repercussions from the company. Gail Austin, Clear Channel's director of programming said, "Out of respect for our troops, our city and our listeners, [we] have taken the Dixie Chicks off our playlists."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2003/03/17/daily14.html |first=Michael |last=Fitzgerald |title=Dixie Chicks axed by Clear Channel |date=March 18, 2003 |access-date=October 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010015435/http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2003/03/17/daily14.html |archive-date=October 10, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Clear Channel was accused of orchestrating the radio blacklist by such critics as Paul Krugman; however, others claim some Clear Channel stations continued to play the band longer than some other companies.<ref>Gabriel Rossman, "Elites, Masses, and Media Blacklists: The Dixie Chicks Controversy", ''Social Forces'': 83 (2004): 61–78.</ref>

In 2005, Clear Channel-owned [[KTVX]] was the only local television station in [[Salt Lake City]] that refused to air a paid political message of [[Cindy Sheehan]] against the [[war in Iraq]] during a visit by President Bush.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=TV station refuses to air anti-war ad days before Bush visit |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-20-bush-ad_x.htm |work=[[USA Today]] |date=August 20, 2005 |access-date=January 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716180633/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-20-bush-ad_x.htm |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 8, 2014, the FCC was asked to respond to a political programming complaint made against an iHeartMedia owned broadcast licensee, Capstar TX LLC by supporters of [[Milwaukee]] mayor [[Tom Barrett (Wisconsin politician)|Tom Barrett]], that year's Democratic candidate for [[Governor of Wisconsin]]. Capstar would not offer free airtime on [[WISN (AM)|WISN radio]] (a station which only features local and national conservative talk shows) to respond to statements supporting Republican Governor [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]]. Walker's supporters had received free airtime from WISN for political purposes. Barrett supporters based their complaint on WISN's violation of the [[Zapple doctrine]]. The FCC responded by rescinding the Zapple doctrine as a no longer enforceable component of the [[Fairness Doctrine]].

===Use of paid actors posing as callers===
iHeartMedia, through its subsidiary, [[Premiere Radio Networks]], auditions and hires actors to call in to talk radio shows and pose as listeners in order to provide shows, carried by iHeartMedia and other broadcasters, with planned content in the form of stories and opinions. The custom caller service provided by Premiere Radio assures its clients they won't hear the same actor's voice for at least two months in order to appear authentic to listeners who might otherwise catch on.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tabletmag.com/life-and-religion/58759/radio-daze/|title=Radio Daze|work=Tablet Magazine|access-date=February 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216081007/http://www.tabletmag.com/life-and-religion/58759/radio-daze/|archive-date=February 16, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

===iHeartMedia and rock radio===
iHeartMedia had ended several long-running rock formats in several markets due to the decline of the format and shifts in overall market demographics, to negative listener reception, including:
* [[KSJO]] [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] (formerly an iHeart station) – flipped to Spanish-language oldies on October 28, 2004, after 35 years as a rock station<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-JOSE-KSJO-s-switch-to-Latin-oldies-rocks-2685778.php|title=KSJO's switch to Latin oldies rocks headbangers' world|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|first=Janine|last=DeFao|date=November 7, 2004|access-date=September 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101033513/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-JOSE-KSJO-s-switch-to-Latin-oldies-rocks-2685778.php|archive-date=November 1, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[KLOL]] [[Houston]] – flipped to Spanish-language pop on November 12, 2004, after 34 years as a rock station<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/entertainment/music/article/KLOL-suddenly-switches-to-Spanish-format-1563017.php|title=KLOL suddenly switches to Spanish format|access-date=September 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017015823/http://www.chron.com/entertainment/music/article/KLOL-suddenly-switches-to-Spanish-format-1563017.php|archive-date=October 17, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> (the station was sold to CBS Radio a few years later)
* [[WBWL (FM)|WFNX]] [[Boston]] – flipped to adult hits on July 24, 2012, after 29 years as an alternative rock station<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2012/07/24/radio-station-now-whba-the-harbor/EVXEW0arXVOxkosDU8viVO/story.html|title=WFNX replaced by WHBA-FM, the Harbor|access-date=June 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614132437/http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2012/07/24/radio-station-now-whba-the-harbor/EVXEW0arXVOxkosDU8viVO/story.html|archive-date=June 14, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[WWPW|WKLS]] [[Atlanta]] – flipped to mainstream top 40 on August 29, 2012, after 38 years as a rock station<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/19422685/rock-fans-upset-over-loss-of-project-9-6-1-radio-station |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902205800/http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/19422685/rock-fans-upset-over-loss-of-project-9-6-1-radio-station |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 2, 2012 |title=Rock fans upset over loss of Project 9-6-1 radio station }}</ref>
* [[KZEP-FM]] [[San Antonio]] – flipped to rhythmic hot AC on August 8, 2014, after 25 years as a classic rock station and 45 years of some form of rock music on the frequency (the classic rock format was moved to low-powered translator [[K227BH]])<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.mysanantonio.com/jakle06/2014/08/john-lisle-gone-kzep-moved-hot-104-5-launched/|title=John Lisle gone, KZEP moved, Hot 104.5 launched|access-date=September 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812101338/http://blog.mysanantonio.com/jakle06/2014/08/john-lisle-gone-kzep-moved-hot-104-5-launched/|archive-date=August 12, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[KDGE]] [[Dallas]]–[[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] – flipped to Christmas music on November 16, 2016, then Mainstream AC on December 26 after 27 years (11 years on [[KZMJ|94.5]] before moving to 102.1 in 2000, and 16 years on 102.1) as an alternative rock station.<ref>{{cite web|title=102.1 The Edge is no more; radio station sends listeners to The Eagle {{!}} GuideLive|url=http://www.guidelive.com/music/2016/11/16/1021-edge-radio-station-kdge-moves-to-eagle|website=GuideLive|language=en|date=November 16, 2016|access-date=March 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312061000/http://www.guidelive.com/music/2016/11/16/1021-edge-radio-station-kdge-moves-to-eagle|archive-date=March 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>