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                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.01


                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


        We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Experts" and
"Selected Financial Data" and to the use of our report dated March 24, 1999,
except for Note 10, as to which the date is May 26, 1999, in the Registration
Statement Amendment No. 2 (Form S-1 No. 333-76649), and related Prospectus of
Salem Communications Corporation for the registration of shares of its common
stock.

        Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Salem
Communications Corporation listed in Item 16(b). This schedule is the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule
referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements
taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set
forth therein.


                                             /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Woodland Hills, California
June 24, 1999