Now, Mr. Henley said, record companies must pay large sums to "independent promoters," who intercede with radio conglomerates to get songs on the air.

Hundreds of musicians signed a letter to the F.C.C. urging that it not loosen the limits on radio conglomerates.

Executives at radio conglomerates, for their part, argue that their own research shows they are giving consumers exactly what they want.

We're down to six media companies, six airlines, two and a half carmakers, and one radio conglomerate.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, radio conglomerate Clear Channel Communications sent out a list of 150 songs that were recommended to be pulled from airplay.

Today, a growing number of artists, consumers and legislators are concerned that radio conglomerates wield too much power.

Communications for many years, then purchased by Saga Communications, a radio conglomerate.

And radio conglomerates and MTV, used to being the most influential voices around, are beginning to wonder how to keep themselves heard.

Clear Channel, the nation's biggest radio conglomerate, seized on the trend early with a feature called "MyPod."

The chief executive of the nation's largest radio conglomerate faced pointed questions today about his company's business practices at a Senate committee hearing on the consolidation of media owners.