<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the financial statements contained in the body of the accompanying Form 10-Q of MUZAK LIMITED PARTNERSHIP and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000891983 <NAME> MUZAK LIMITED PARTNERSHIP <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 20,313 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 15,483 <ALLOWANCES> 526 <INVENTORY> 3,617 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 40,623 <PP&E> 72,110 <DEPRECIATION> 34,701 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 110,843 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 18,217 <BONDS> 100,817 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 110,843 <SALES> 6,977 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 43,865 <CGS> 4,996 <TOTAL-COSTS> 18,587 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 27,362 <LOSS-PROVISION> 181 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,375 <INCOME-PRETAX> (6,988) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (6,988) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (6,988) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0