<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF INTEREP NATIONAL RADIO SALES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR YEAR 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 1,419 2,653 4,441 <SECURITIES> 0 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 43,544 39,114 49,752 <ALLOWANCES> 1,220 982 1,220 <INVENTORY> 0 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 83,119 64,597 92,196 <PP&E> 19,384 17,678 19,275 <DEPRECIATION> 15,049 13,462 15,392 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 141,212 94,185 145,141 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 49,921 44,378 41,062 <BONDS> 44,425 34,235 42,884 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 6,924 5,334 7,389 <PREFERRED> 0 0 0 <COMMON> 4,536 4,675 4,536 <OTHER-SE> (28,087) (18,420) (33,112) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 141,212 94,185 145,141 <SALES> 87,096 72,858 15,898 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 87,096 72,858 15,898 <CGS> 0 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 90,659 71,064 19,148 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,779 3,911 1,005 <INCOME-PRETAX> (7,342) (2,117) (4,255) <INCOME-TAX> 412 400 49 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (7,754) (2,517) (4,304) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (7,754) (2,517) (4,304) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0 0