<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