<ARTICLE> 5
 <LEGEND>
 This Schedule contains summary financial        
 information extracted from the financial        
 statements contained in the body of the         
 accompanying Form 10-K and is qualified in its  
 entirety by reference to such financial
 statements.
 </LEGEND>
 <MULTIPLIER>                  1,000             
        
                            
 <CIK>                         0000891983        
 <NAME>                        Muzak Limited Partnership
 <PERIOD-TYPE>                 YEAR              
 <FISCAL-YEAR-END>             DEC-31-1996       
 <PERIOD-END>                  DEC-31-1996       
 <CASH>                        25,686            
 <SECURITIES>                  0                 
 <RECEIVABLES>                 16,096            
 <ALLOWANCES>                  496               
 <INVENTORY>                   3,722             
 <CURRENT-ASSETS>              46,966            
 <PP&E>                        67,191            
 <DEPRECIATION>                30,009            
 <TOTAL-ASSETS>                119,042           
 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES>         18,774            
 <BONDS>                       100,620           
 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>         0                 
 <PREFERRED>                   0                 
 <COMMON>                      0                 
 <OTHER-SE>                    0                 
 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>  119,042           
 <SALES>                       86,811            
 <TOTAL-REVENUES>              86,811            
 <CGS>                         11,557            
 <TOTAL-COSTS>                 37,026            
 <OTHER-EXPENSES>              51,874            
 <LOSS-PROVISION>              472               
 <INTEREST-EXPENSE>            8,112             
 <INCOME-PRETAX>               (10,201)          
 <INCOME-TAX>                  0                 
 <INCOME-CONTINUING>           (10,201)          
 <DISCONTINUED>                0                 
 <EXTRAORDINARY>               (622)             
 <CHANGES>                     0                 
 <NET-INCOME>                  (10,823)          
 <EPS-PRIMARY>                 0                 
 <EPS-DILUTED>                 0