With the fickle pressure of shareholders breathing down their necks, and a stock that hasn't rebounded from its drop from around $55 per share in 2002, Clear Channel Communications Inc. (CCU) has hired Goldman Sachs & Co. to advise them of the options available.
Radio programming consultant and media historian Donna Halper said:
"If you're constantly worrying about where your stock is today, you're going to make decisions that aren't broadcasting decisions, if they go private, it gives them the flexibility to turn a profit, but to also have the time to grow and develop new formats, and to perfect the ones they already have."
With the outlook for radio companies not looking good at all, and its stock sitting between $30 to $35 a share for a couple of years, there 
may not be any other alternative if the company wants to survive and eventually thrive in the new realities.
During this time of disruption and turmoil, unless the management is willing to put up with shareholder anger and demand for short-term answers, I don't see what else they could do.
Companies solely in the radio business aren't set for growth in any way; they'll be lucky if they don't continue shrinking with the changing entertainment climate. They are still reeling from getting caught offguard from consumers' demand for downloadable music.
I think they should go private and give themselves the breathing room to be able to see how they can strategically respond to the existing marketplace. If they don't, they will endlessly have to deal with putting out brushfires as shareholders demand higher returns. The result would only be possible short-term spikes that do nothing for long-term success.
Do you think they should go private?
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