From its founding in 1972 by Red McCombs and Lowry Mays, Clear Channel has grown to become the largest radio- and outdoor-advertising company in the world: although their growth has been surrounded by a fair amount of controversy over business practices, leadership decisions, acquisition strategies, and buyouts. The Clear Channel story is one about chance and circumstance, opportunity and diligence, and this is the only corporate history of Clear Channel that is authorized by the company and includes exclusive interviews with top-level executives. It's a story of vision and foresight, the willingness to take a calculated risk on the unknown, of fiscal prudence, vibrant leadership, and at times, an almost breathtaking capacity to influence the dynamics of the media marketplace. Most importantly it is the story of the entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen of the people who have helped make Clear Channel the media giant that it is today.