According to reports in industry journals, ABC Radio and Citadel Broadcasting Corporation are merging. The merger will create a new corporation, Citadel Communications, that will be the third largest radio corporation in the United States with a national presence extending into more than 50 markets. Currently, Citadel owns 212 radio stations and ABC Radio owns 71 stations. The merger will include 22 stations owned by ABC Radio as well as the ABC Radio Network, placing the new Citadel Communications third among top broadcasting companies, behind Infinity Broadcasting and Clear Channel.
In Grand Rapids, Citadel owns four stations—WBBL, WKLQ, WLAV, and WODJ—while Clear Channel owns nine and Regent Broadcasting owns five. Over the past decade, the consolidation of the radio industry has limited local voices, stifled innovative music by new artists by limiting access to the public airwaves, and increased the prevalence of syndicated hate speech masquerading as right-wing commentary.
