Clear Channel buys its biggest critic

[Donna Halper <dlh@donnahalper.com>]

Perhaps I missed it, but has anyone expressed an opinion about the fact 
that Inside Radio Fax, run since its inception in 1975 by Jerry Del 
Colliano, has been bought up by M Street Publications?  Jerry has spent a 
considerable amount of time being a very vocal (some say too vocal) critic 
of Clear Channel, and last week, he lost a law-suit CC had filed against 
him (he and Randy Michaels thoroughly dislike each other, as has been 
well-documented in other publications, and there were suits and 
countersuits for libel); but imagine my surprise when today the 
announcement came through that Jerry is suddenly out of the biz completely, 
and a CC subsidiary, M Street Publications, now owns his sheet and also 
owns the right to use the name "Inside Radio".

Tom Taylor, editor of M Street, says that the newly merged sheet will still 
be independent.  I like Tom and we go back years, but I must ask how he 
independent can he really be when his paycheck is signed by the very people 
Jerry used to cast in such a negative light ...I am sure Tom will say that 
he will continue to call 'em as he sees 'em, but let's be realistic-- is he 
really going to be free to criticise the very people for whom he 
works?  This sudden "merger" gives the impression that once again CC has 
won, having been able to stamp out a competitor.  I also wonder why the 
mainstream media haven't been following this story.  Is there any aspect of 
the media where Clear Channel does not have influence at this point?