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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1
 
                 [Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld Letterhead]
 
                                  May 4, 1998
 
Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
200 Concord Plaza, Suite 600
San Antonio, Texas 78216
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
     We have acted as counsel to Clear Channel Communications, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), and CCCI Capital Trust I, CCCI Capital Trust II,
and CCCI Capital Trust III (each a "Trust" and collectively the "Trusts") in
connection with the filing of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant
to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the registration of the sale from
time to time of up to $1,500,000,000 aggregate amount of (i) unsecured senior
debt securities, unsecured subordinated debt securities and unsecured junior
subordinated debt securities of the Company (collectively, the "Debt
Securities"), (ii) preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company
(the "Preferred Stock"), (iii) common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock"), (iv) preferred securities of the Trusts (the
"Preferred Securities"), (v) guarantees of the Preferred Securities by the
Company (the "Guarantees"), (vi) warrants of the Company to purchase Common
Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (the "Warrants"), (viii) stock
purchase contracts to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the "Purchase
Contracts"), and (ix) stock purchase units, each representing ownership of a
Purchase Contract and Debt Securities, Preferred Securities, or debt obligations
of third parties securing a holder's obligation to purchase Common Stock or
Preferred Stock under the Purchase Contracts (the "Stock Purchase Units").
 
     The senior Debt Securities are to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the
"Senior Indenture") between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee.
The subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the
"Subordinated Indenture") between the Company and The Bank of New York, as
trustee. The junior subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued pursuant to an
Indenture (the "Junior Subordinated Indenture") between the Company and The Bank
of New York, as trustee. The Bank of New York, in its capacity as trustee under
the Senior Indenture, the Subordinated Indenture and the Junior Subordinated
Indenture, is referred to herein as the "Trustee" and the Senior Indenture,
Subordinated Indenture and Junior Subordinated Indenture are referred to herein
collectively as the "Indentures". The Preferred Securities are to be issued from
time to time by each Trust pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust (the "Amended Declaration") to be filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware by the Trustee of the relevant Trust.
 
     We have, as counsel, examined such corporate records, certificates and
other documents and reviewed such questions of law as we have deemed necessary,
relevant or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed below. In
rendering such opinions, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and
the authenticity of all documents examined by us. As to various questions of
fact material to such opinions, we have relied upon representations of the
Company.
 
     Based upon such examination and representations, we advise you that, in our
opinion:
 
          1. Assuming that the Indentures, any Debt Securities and any
     supplemental indentures to be entered into in connection with the issuance
     of such Debt Securities have been duly authorized, when (i) a supplemental
     indenture in respect of the Debt Securities has been duly executed and
     delivered,
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     (ii) the terms of the Debt Securities have been duly established in
     accordance with the applicable Indenture and the applicable supplemental
     indenture relating to such Debt Securities so as not to violate any
     applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or
     instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any
     requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or
     regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, and (iii) the Debt
     Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the
     applicable Indenture and the applicable supplemental indenture relating to
     such Debt Securities and duly issued and delivered by the Company in the
     manner contemplated on the Registration Statement and any prospectus
     supplement relating thereto, the Debt Securities (including any Debt
     Securities duly issued (a) upon exchange or conversion of any shares of
     Preferred Stock that are exchangeable or convertible into Debt Securities,
     (b) upon the exercise of any Warrants exercisable for Debt Securities or
     (c) as part of Stock Purchase Units) will constitute valid and binding
     obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms,
     except as (1) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
     insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other
     similar laws now or hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting the
     enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and (2) the availability of
     equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general
     applicability (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or
     in equity).
 
          2. Assuming that the Guarantees have been duly authorized, when (i)
     the applicable Guarantee Agreement (the "Guarantee Agreement") has been
     duly executed and delivered so as not to violate any applicable law or
     result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding
     upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction
     imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction
     over the Company, and (ii) the Preferred Securities have been duly issued
     and delivered by the applicable Trusts contemplated by the Registration
     Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the Guarantees
     will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable
     in accordance with their terms, except as (a) the enforceability thereof
     may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent
     transfer, moratorium or similar laws now or hereinafter in effect relating
     to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and (b) the
     availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles
     of general applicability (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding
     at law or in equity).
 
          3. Assuming that a Warrant Agreement relating to the Warrants, (the
     "Warrant Agreement") has been duly authorized, when (i) the Warrant
     Agreement has been duly executed and delivered, (ii) the terms of the
     Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in
     conformity with the Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants so as not
     to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any
     agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with
     any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or
     regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, and (iii) the
     Warrants have been duly executed and countersigned in accordance with the
     Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants, and issued and sold in the
     form and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any
     prospectus supplement relating thereto, such Warrants will constitute valid
     and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with
     their terms, except as (a) the enforceability thereof may be limited by
     bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and
     other similar laws now or hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting
     creditors' rights generally, and (b) the availability of equitable remedies
     may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability (regardless
     of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
 
          4. Assuming that a Purchase Contract Agreement relating to the
     Purchase Contracts (the "Purchase Contract Agreement") and such Purchase
     Contracts have been duly authorized, when (i) the Purchase Contract
     Agreement has been duly executed and delivered, (ii) the terms of the
     Purchase Contracts and of their issuance and sale have been duly
     established in conformity with the Purchase Contract Agreement so as not to
     violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any
     agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with
     any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or
     regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, and (iii) the
     Purchase Contracts have been duly executed and issued in accordance with
     the
 
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     Purchase Contract Agreement relating to such Purchase Contracts, and issued
     and sold in the form and in the manner contemplated in the Registration
     Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, such Purchase
     Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company,
     enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as (a) the
     enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
     reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar laws now
     or hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights
     generally, and (b) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by
     equitable principles of general applicability (regardless of whether
     considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
 
          5. Assuming that the Stock Purchase Units, a Purchase Contract
     Agreement relating to the Purchase Contracts comprising a part of the Stock
     Purchase Units and such Purchase Contracts have been duly authorized, when
     (i) the Purchase Contract Agreement has been duly executed and delivered,
     (ii) the terms of the Purchase Contracts and of their issuance and sale
     have been duly established in conformity with the Purchase Contract
     Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default
     under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and
     so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or
     governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iii)
     the terms of the collateral arrangements relating to such Stock Purchase
     Units have been duly established and the agreement(s) relating thereto have
     been duly executed and delivered, in each case so as not to violate any
     applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or
     instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any
     requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or
     regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company and the collateral has
     been deposited with the collateral agent in accordance with such
     arrangements, and (iv) the Purchase Contracts have been duly executed and
     issued in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement relating to such
     Purchase Contracts, and issued and sold in the form and in the manner
     contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement
     relating thereto, such Stock Purchase Units will constitute valid and
     binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their
     terms, except as (a) the enforceability thereof may be limited by
     bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and
     other similar laws now or hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting
     creditors' rights generally, and (b) the availability of equitable remedies
     may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability (regardless
     of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
 
          6. Upon designation of the relative rights, preferences and
     limitations of any series of Preferred Stock by the Board of Directors of
     the Company and the proper filing with the Secretary of State of the State
     of Texas of a Statement of Designations, Preferences and Rights relating to
     such series of Preferred Stock, all necessary corporate action on the part
     of the Company will have been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of
     such series of Preferred Stock proposed to be sold by the Company, and when
     such shares of Preferred Stock are paid for, issued and delivered in
     accordance with the applicable underwriting or other agreement, such shares
     of Preferred Stock (including any shares of Preferred Stock issued (i) upon
     exercise of any Warrants for Preferred Stock, (ii) upon conversion of any
     Debt Securities that are convertible or exchangeable into Preferred Stock,
     or (iii) pursuant to Stock Purchase Contracts) will be validly issued,
     fully paid and non-assessable.
 
          7. When all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company has
     been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such shares of Common
     Stock proposed to be sold by the Company, and when such shares of Common
     Stock are issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable
     underwriting or other agreement, such shares of Common Stock (including any
     shares of Common Stock issued (i) upon exercise of any Warrants for Common
     Stock, (ii) upon conversion of any Debt Securities that are convertible or
     exchangeable for Common Stock, (iii) pursuant to Stock Purchase Contracts,
     or (iv) upon the exchange or conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock
     that are exchangeable or convertible into Common Stock) will be validly
     issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
 
     In connection with the opinions expressed above, we have assumed that, at
or prior to the time of the delivery of any such security, (i) the Board of
Directors shall have duly established the terms of such security
 
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and duly authorized the issuance and sale of such security and such
authorization shall not have been modified or rescinded, (ii) the Registration
Statement shall have been declared effective and such effectiveness shall not
have been terminated or rescinded, and (iii) there shall not have occurred any
change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of such security. We have
also assumed that none of the terms of any security to be established subsequent
to the date hereof, nor the issuance and delivery of such security, nor the
compliance by the Company with the terms of such security will violate any
applicable law or will result in a violation of any provision of any instrument
or agreement then binding upon the Company, or any restriction imposed by any
court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
 
     We are members of the Bar of the State of Texas and the State of New York
and the foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Texas, the
State of New York, and the federal laws of the United States of America.
 
     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In addition, we consent to the reference to us under the
caption "Legal Opinions" in the prospectus.
 
     This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the above matter.
This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or relied upon
by or furnished to any other person without our prior written consent.
 
                                     Very truly yours,
 
                                       /s/ AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD,
                                                      L.L.P.
 
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                                     AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P.
 
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