The Telecommunications Act of 1996 contains provisions that allow increasin
g levels of concentration in local radio markets. Debate has focused on whe
ther allowing greater concentration of broadcast media resources into fewer
hands is a sound public policy. One fear of regulators is the effect of in
creased concentration on the market power of radio stations. Concentrating
on intraindustry variations, this paper systematically assesses the link be
tween radio station profitability and market concentration. The underlying
assumption of the empirical analysis is that sale price (or present value)
of the radio station includes the present value of future profits. The resu
lts do not support a strong relationship between increases in concentration
and the profitability of radio stations, although we find group ownership
to increase efficiency.